Speaking to reporters on the plane before landing, the Pope said sexual abuse remained “an open wound” for the Church.
Sanchez’s government and the Catholic Church in Spain signed an agreement in March to compensate victims after years of complaints that religious leaders had failed to tackle the issue adequately.
A 2023 study by the Spanish ombudsman’s office, which investigates public complaints, estimated that 1.1% of the population had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of members of the clergy or individuals linked to the Church – the equivalent of 440,000 people.
The Church has contested these findings.
On Saturday, King Felipe hailed Pope Leo’s “clarity and firmness” on the issue, saying it was “essential in the process of healing and reparation of the damage inflicted”.
