Survivors Share Their Hopes for the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV

The election of Pope Leo XIV in Rome on May 8 sparked an array of thoughts and feelings for people who have experienced harm in the Catholic Church. Given that Awake works to face the realities of abuse from a position of hope, we share these thoughts from leaders in the Awake community who are survivors of abuse in the Church. They describe what they hope for Pope Leo’s pontificate.

“I hope Pope Leo will truly listen to survivors.”

The Vatican, Rome

“I hope Pope Leo will truly listen to survivors, not through carefully managed encounters, but by sitting with them in their raw pain without any defensiveness, aides, or lawyers present. Genuine listening would result in an understanding that clergy abuse isn't a momentary tragedy but a lifelong wound that affects every aspect of their lives. Only through such deep, uncomfortable listening can the Church begin to grasp the radical changes needed to bring justice to those harmed in God's name and put an end to this systemic issue.” —Lucy Huh, Board of Directors

“My deepest hope is for justice.”

“My deepest hope is for justice. Every single report of abuse by clergy should be fully investigated, no matter the age of the victim at the time of the abuse. It doesn’t matter if a victim was 17 at the time of the abuse and the age of consent in the church was 15. All victim-survivors deserve justice from the church. Acknowledgment is life altering for a victim. Stop protecting the clergy and the institution! Tell the truth and offer restorative justice.” —Wendy Mitch, Survivor Advisory Panel

“I am hoping for reform.”

“Pope Leo XIV’s first messages point to a vision of a Church grounded in listening, justice, peace, and solidarity with the vulnerable. In his papacy, I am hoping for tangible signs of bringing that vision to life, through reforms like enforcing diocesan transparency and removing Rupnik’s art from the Vatican. I also hope he builds on Pope Francis’s steps toward including survivor voices in the Church’s life. Leo’s words are meaningful and important, but no words are as meaningful as structural changes.” —Natalie Pucillo, Leadership Team

“Two words: survivor centered”

“I place my hope for Pope Leo and the worldwide Roman Catholic Church in two words: ‘survivor centered.’ This can mean real actions such as: 1. Adding one survivor, with voting status, for every existing non-survivor member on the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors; 2. Requiring every diocese to create a survivor advisory panel, and listening deeply to its suggestions for safeguarding/prevention of abuse as well as ongoing education of the faithful about the dynamics of abuse alongside healing resources for survivors and their loved ones; 3. Including education about healthy sexuality and dynamics of power/abuse of power into the curriculum for seminarians going through discernment and formation; and 4. Leading the way on incorporating expert wisdom regarding the dynamics of sexual abuse into every sacrament of the Church, such that survivors are welcome to participate fully, with the full support of church leaders, without hesitation.” —Mike Koplinka-Loehr, Leadership Team

“I hope he will accompany survivors on their healing journey.”

“I do not have information on what direct experience Pope Leo XIV has had with survivors. However, I hope that he will approach the issue of abuse by church leadership with a fresh perspective and open mind, acknowledging that it has been addressed incompletely and inconclusively and that further work is imminently needed to promote healing and unity in the Church. I hope that he will allow the perspectives of survivors to inspire and inform initiatives that reflect a zero-tolerance policy toward offenders and a commitment of resources toward restoring the wholeness of survivors. I hope that he will lead the Church through personal example, teaching, and guidance, to accompany survivors on their healing journey.” —Deborah Schiessl, Survivor Advisory Panel

“I hope Pope Leo focuses on more than the institution.”

“There is a difference between institutional accountability/institutional change and real heartfelt personal healing from the tragic and long-lasting consequences of clergy abuse and cover up. Obviously, institutional reforms must continue, but institutional changes do not heal my broken heart, or ease the anguish and despair in my heart. I hope and pray Pope Leo focuses on more than the institution to honor and value the voices of individual abuse survivors across the Universal Church. Healing from abuse is messy, and I pray Pope Leo's actions will be a beacon of hope for healing we all need.” —Mike Hoffman, Survivor Advisory Panel

“I pray for compassion, courage, conviction, consolation, charity.”

“Dear Lord, Fill the heart of your servant Leo with COMPASSION for your children who suffer from grievous wounds his predecessors and subordinates inflicted over centuries; with COURAGE to end forever the structures of deceit that enabled them; the CONVICTION to create and enforce just, safe, transparent, and accountable Church communities; and a new spirit of authentic CONSOLATION for all afflicted with unspeakable damage, anguish, confusion, anger, and despair, including at the loss of your companionship; and CHARITY for all mistreated in your name who have been ignored or cast aside and can’t pray to you today.” —Colin Roskey, Board of Directors