Pope Leos Argentina visit brings renewed scrutiny in wake of clergy abuse scandals
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Argentina comes amid allegations of sexual abuse and other crimes involving Catholic clergy and lay members, with survivors demanding stronger action from the Vatican against those accused or convicted.Victims have expressed frustration over the Vatican’s silence on church proceedings involving priests convicted in criminal courts.They are demanding that the clergy be defrocked, the Catholic Church’s most severe disciplinary punishment.The papal visit, initially scheduled for Nov.
8-11, has stirred mixed feelings.Some survivors hope to meet Leo to share their experiences and demand action, while others, including members of a network of clergy abuse survivors, oppose his visit, saying the church has failed to deliver on its promises of “zero tolerance” for abuse.Here are some of the major scandals involving the Catholic Church in Argentina:Leo is scheduled to visit Córdoba province, where priest Alejandro Nicola faces allegations of sexually abusing children at a Catholic school’s kindergarten, mostly in 2025.More than a dozen families have filed complaints.
Prosecutors are investigating, while the local church has opened a preliminary inquiry.Nicola was seen celebrating Mass at Córdoba’s cathedral in July despite the allegations, angering families of the alleged victims.The pope is expected to visit the cathedral during his trip.Florencia Navarro and Fernanda Agüero, who accuse Nicola of abusing their daughters, criticized church and school authorities for their handling of the allegations.“I would like him to provide explanations, since they talk so much about protecting the vulnerable,” Navarro said of the pope.Agüero said she hoped the pope’s message would be backed by “concrete actions” rather than words alone.Cordoba Archbishop Ángel Rossi invoked the priest’s presumption of innocence when questioned about the case.Nicola has not addressed the allegations, telling journalists...