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People who endured abuse by Catholic clergy have expressed renewed hope following their first meeting with Pope Leo at the Vatican.

The board president, heading the anti-abuse organization, stated that the pontiff's decision to meet with them so soon in his leadership spoke volumes about his commitment to tackling the issue.

Worldwide Strict Approach Pushed

The group is advocating for a global zero-tolerance policy that would permanently remove any clergy member who confesses to or is found guilty of abusing a minor. This policy has been implemented in the US.

The Pope acknowledged that there is "opposition in some parts of the world" to this initiative, according to Hickey.

"Everyone was practical when we acknowledged that there is pushback," Hickey stated.

Legacy Issue

The current pontiff, who took the role in May, has taken on this longstanding problem that has plagued the Church for many years.

Earlier attempts to address the situation included an historic summit on paedophilia within the institution and revisions to church laws to explicitly criminalize sexual abuse.

Personal Link

For Hickey, who uses gender-neutral pronouns, the campaign for global implementation of the measure is personal. The Canadian activist revealed they were victimized by a clergy member who was later transferred between different parishes.

"We trust this will set the tone for his leadership, because we aim to collaborate with him," Hickey expressed. "Both sides share the common objective, we seek to end abuse by religious officials."

Historic Meeting

Seven representatives of the coalition, which represents victims and advocates from over thirty countries, engaged with the Pope in his official residence.

The discussion, originally scheduled for 20 minutes, extended to a full hour, during which the Pope "primarily heard to us," according to the representative.

The pontiff was described as "very understanding" when hearing the account of a woman abused at a church-run institution for Indigenous children in North America.

They noted the Pope was "tender" about their personal experience and seemed "very humble, humorous, and approachable."

"Victims have long wanted a seat at the table and I didn't perceive like he was making empty promises," they commented. "I believed like he was sincere, realistic, and receptive and eager to collaborate with us."

Church Regulations Changes

The organization is advocating that revisions to church regulations will facilitate the adoption of the strict approach worldwide.

They have consulted specialists and compiled materials that they plan to present to Pope Leo.

"He appeared interested in reviewing it," Hickey noted.

Accountability Highlighted

A recently released Vatican-commissioned document highlighted the "necessity of a efficient process for the resignation and/or removal of Church leaders or personnel in cases of misconduct or negligence."

The report also pointed out that victims repeatedly stressed the "urgent need for church leaders and senior officials to be held accountable for negligence and cover-up."

Path Ahead

The representative shared they told the pontiff at the beginning of their discussion: "This is as much a risk for him to participate in a conversation as it was for us."

Following the meeting, they expressed optimism for progress.

"We realise it's not something that's going to happen overnight, but at the conclusion, uniting and establishing a connection and persisting to strengthen that relationship is a move in the right direction," they commented.

They added that they shared with Pope Leo: "Even though it's a dark chapter, I believe like we can alter how the story ends - he appreciated that."