Pope Leo praises work of journalists in first public comments on clerical abuse scandal
CNN — Pope Leo XIV has said the Catholic Church must establish a culture that refuses to tolerate abuse in 'any form,' as he thanked a Peruvian journalist for reporting on allegations of abuse inside a powerful Catholic group.
Leo's remarks, the first he has made publicly on the church's abuse scandals since his election to the papacy on May 8, were contained in a message sent for the performance of a play which dramatizes the work of an investigative journalist, Paola Ugaz, who has faced a long campaign of legal actions and death threats due to her reporting.
'It is urgent to ingrain throughout the Church a culture of prevention that does not tolerate any form of abuse — neither of power or authority, nor of conscience or spirituality, nor sexual,' Leo wrote in a message read on 20 June. 'This culture will only be authentic if it is born of active vigilance, transparent processes, and sincere listening to those who have been hurt.'
The pope said the work of journalism was essential to implementing that culture of prevention, as he praised Ugaz and other Peruvian journalists for their reporting on abuse scandals inside the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (Sodality of Christian Life, or SCV), a hugely influential Catholic society which had deep ties to Peru's powerful and wealthy.
Pope Leo, who spent years working as a missionary and bishop in Peru, came face-to-face with the SCV case when working in the country with Ugaz, and several survivors have said he was crucial in ensuring action was taken against the now dissolved group.
A portrait of journalist Paola Ugaz taken in Lima, Peru, in January 2021.
Hugo Perez/GDA/AP
In his message, the first American pope said it was vital the church followed 'a concrete path of humility, truth, and reparation' when it came to tackling abuses and cited a landmark 2018 letter from Pope Francis, in which he pledged the church's 'commitment to guarantee the protection of minors and vulnerable adults'. Leo insisted that the response to abuse cannot simply be a 'strategy' but requires a 'conversion' by the church, which for decades has been grappling with devastating revelations of sexual abuse by priests and other church leaders.
The pope's praise of journalists' work in exposing abuse scandals is significant, given that some bishops have in the past criticized the media for its reporting on them. Leo XIV, however, said the journalists who had reported on the Sodalitium had done so with 'courage, patience, and fidelity to the truth' and had faced 'unjust attacks.'
The pope said the church recognized the 'wound' in 'so many children, young people, and adults who were betrayed where they sought solace' and 'those who risked their freedom and their (good) names so that the truth would not be buried.'
The June 20 message from Leo was read at a performance in Lima, Peru, of the play 'Proyecto Ugaz' (Project Ugaz), which highlights Ugaz's years-long investigation into the Sodalitium. Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu, one of the Vatican investigators into the Sodalitium group, read out the message with Ugaz on stage alongside him.
The work of journalists is vital, Leo insisted, in ensuring the church is a place where 'no one suffers in silence' and where 'the truth is not seen as a threat, but as a path to liberation. He praised Ugaz and fellow journalists for their courage in exposing the abuses.
Pope Leo also referenced 'tensions' in Peru, which have been heightened following the removal of President Pedro Castillo in 2022, and he underlined the importance of a free media in a country where journalists have faced intimidation and attacks.
'In this time of profound institutional and social tensions, defending free and ethical journalism is not only an act of justice, but a duty of all those who yearn for a solid and participatory democracy,' he said. 'Wherever a journalist is silenced, the democratic soul of a country is weakened. Freedom of the press is an inalienable common good. Those who conscientiously exercise this vocation cannot see their voices silenced by petty interests or fear of the truth.'
A few days after his election, the pope met media representatives in the Vatican and during that gathering he stressed his support for a free press and called for the release of imprisoned journalists. Ugaz was among those present at the meeting, and after his speech she greeted Leo with a broad smile, as she handed him a box of chocolates and a Peruvian scarf.
That meeting with the media, Leo explained in his message on June 20, affirmed the 'sacred mission' of journalists to 'become bridges between the facts and the conscience of the people.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
27 minutes ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
No increase in radiation levels in Egypt after strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran: ENRRA - Society
The Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority (ENRRA) confirmed on Sunday that the country is far from any direct impact resulting from targeting uranium enrichment and conversion facilities in Iran. In a statement, ENRRA stressed that none of the countries neighbouring Iran have reported detecting any changes or increases in radiation levels. The authority also affirmed continuous monitoring around the clock of developments related to the status of nuclear facilities in the regional vicinity as events unfold. It added that it is following up on reports issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concerning the situation at these facilities and constantly coordinating with the concerned national authorities. The statement emphasized that ENRRA is monitoring the radiation background through the Authority's radiation monitoring, alert, and early reporting system, which uses the latest radiation detection devices spread throughout the country. The authority also urged citizens to rely only on official statements as a trusted source of information in this regard. The IAEA issued a statement earlier confirming that there has been no increase in off-site radiation levels after US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Iran also confirmed that there were no signs of contamination at its nuclear sites at Isfahan, Fordo, and Natanz after US airstrikes targeted the facilities. In the early hours of Sunday, American B-2 stealth bombers unleashed several 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs against the heavily fortified Iranian nuclear sites, while US submarines launched about 30 Tomahawk missiles. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
43 minutes ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
🔴LIVE UPDATES: Iran launches fresh missile toward Israel after US military strikes three Iranian nuclear facilities - Region
President Donald Trump said that the US military had carried out strikes Sunday on three Iranian nuclear sites and that Tehran "must now agree to end this war", following days of speculation over whether the United States would join its ally Israel's bombing campaign. 10:00 Israeli emergency services have said about 10 sites were hit by Iran's missiles, including in Tel Aviv, Carmel, and Haifa, after Iran launched two waves of missiles following the US bombing of its nuclear sites, About 23 people are believed to have been injured, most not seriously, according to Israeli media outlets. Rescuers are continuing to search the impact sites. Some buildings in Tel Aviv have been destroyed, Haaretz reported. Public broadcaster KAN 11 showed images of a devastated building surrounded by mounds of rubble that it said was in central Israel. 09:50 More personnel from the United States diplomatic mission departed Iraq over the weekend as part of ongoing efforts to reduce embassy staffing amid "regional tensions," a US official said after Washington attacked Iranian nuclear sites. The embassy and the consulate remain operational. "As part of our ongoing effort to streamline operations, additional personnel departed Iraq on June 21 and 22," the US official told AFP. 09:40 Iranian authorities said "no signs of contamination" after the US attacks on three of its nuclear facilities. "No signs of contamination have been recorded," according to the National Centre for the Nuclear Safety System, which operates under Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. "There is, therefore, no danger for the inhabitants living around the ... sites." The International Atomic Energy Agency also reported that there is currently no increase in off-site radiation levels at the three nuclear sites hit by US strikes. 'IAEA will provide further assessments on situation in Iran as more information becomes available,' it said. In a related statement, Saudi regulatory authorities confirmed that "no radioactive effects were detected" in the Gulf region after US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. "No radioactive effects were detected on the environment of the Kingdom and the Arab Gulf states as a result of the American military targeting of Iran's nuclear facilities," the kingdom's Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission wrote in a post on X. 09:35 A Yemeni Houthi official said that the group's response to the U.S. attack on Iran was 'only a matter of time'. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi movement's political bureau, told Al Jazeera that its ceasefire deal with Washington was before the 'war' on Iran. The group has been launching attacks on shipping lanes and Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during the Israeli war. It agreed on a ceasefire deal with the United States in May to stop attacking US ships in exchange for an end to Washington's bombings of the group. 09:20 Iran's armed forces said they targeted multiple sites in Israel, including Ben Gurion airport, after US attacks on key nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic. "The twentieth wave of Operation Honest Promise 3 began using a combination of long-range liquid and solid fuel missiles with devastating warhead power," the armed forces said in a statement quoted by Fars news agency. It added that the targets included the airport, a "biological research centre," logistics bases, and various layers of command and control centres. Israel's military said it had detected two waves of missiles fired from Iran, as air raid sirens rang out in Tel Aviv and explosions rocked Jerusalem. "At this time, the (Israeli Air Force) is operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat.", the military said in a statement. A similar statement about another wave of missiles was issued 30 minutes later before the alert was lifted at around 8:10am (0510 GMT). 09:00 The Israeli military said it launched a fresh series of strikes targeting military targets, including missile launchers, in western Iran after the United States attacked the country's nuclear sites. The air force began "a series of strikes toward military targets in western Iran", a military statement said, adding it had "struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralised the launchers that launched missiles toward Israeli territory a short while ago." 08:00 UN chief António Guterres calls the US move a 'dangerous escalation." 08:00 Trump said the US military carried out a "very successful attack" on three Iranian nuclear sites, including the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow. "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran," including Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. "A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site," Fordow, he said, adding that the planes were safely out of Iranian airspace and on the way home. The president said that after the strikes, Iran "must now agree to end this war," insisting that under no circumstances should Iran possess a nuclear weapon. Iranian media said part of the Fordow uranium enrichment facility, as well as the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites, were attacked. Israel raised its alert level after the strikes, permitting only essential activities until further notice, the Israeli military announced. In a televised address to the nation from the White House, Trump warned that the United States would go after more targets if Iran did not make peace quickly. "Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success," said Trump, adding that they targeted the crucial underground nuclear enrichment plant of Fordo along with facilities at Natanz and Isfahan. "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran the bully of the Middle East must now make peace," said Trump. Trump said that future attacks would be "far greater" unless Iran reached a diplomatic solution. "Remember, there are many targets left," he said. Trump said earlier on his Truth Social site that a "full payload of BOMBS" was dropped on Fordo and noted that "all planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors." The raid on the Iranian nuclear sites was carried out by B-2 stealth bombers that dropped so-called "bunker buster bombs," along with submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles, US media reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on the strikes, saying, "with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history." Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Independent
an hour ago
- Egypt Independent
A celebrity draft-dodging scandal lays bare problems with Taiwan's crucial reservist force
Taipei, Taiwan CNN — A draft-dodging scandal in Taiwan allegedly involving a number of actors, influencers, and musicians has cast an unflattering spotlight on the conscript and reservist forces which could one day stand between the island and a possible invasion by China. Taiwan's military service regime, which runs alongside its conventional military, faces accusations of failing to prepare conscripts for an actual war – an alarming situation against a drumbeat of threats from its giant neighbor. On Monday, authorities indicted 28 defendants. Prosecutors allege that, between 2016 and early this year, a four-person ring helped 24 healthy men dodge the draft by faking high blood pressure to gain a medical exemption, netting a total of 7.63 million Taiwanese dollars ($255,000). At least 11 celebrities are now under investigation. Among those indicted was the actor Darren Wang. The 34-year-old, launched to fame across the Chinese-speaking world a decade ago as a boyish heartthrob in teen romcom Our Times, was accused of paying 3.6 million Taiwanese dollars ($120,000) for a fake hypertension diagnosis. He has since begun military service, which is mandatory for men aged 19 to 36. CNN has reached out to Wang's representatives for comment, but did not receive a response. Taiwanese actor Darren Wang leaves the police department in Taipei, Taiwan, after being released on bail on February 18, 2025. VCG/AP/File Such organized efforts to evade conscription are largely seen as a sign of people's apathy towards service, rather than their fear of military rough-and-tumble. 'What puts off the conscripts is not exhaustion from training, but the sense of waste of time,' Chieh Chung, an associate research fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research (NDSR), told CNN. 'Most of the time during the service is dedicated to miscellaneous tasks, and not actually combat-related.' A mundane duty Back in 1949, as the Nationalist government lost a bloody civil war against the insurgent Chinese Communist Party and fled to Taiwan, it introduced mandatory military service to the island, where eligible men would serve two years in the army or three years in the navy, air force or marines. The system, in one form or another, has been in place ever since – as have Beijing's designs on the island, which the Communist Party claims as its own territory, to be taken by force if necessary. But military service has long been seen as anything but heroic. Conscripts have described it as monotonous, disorganized and often irrelevant to modern warfare: a combination of indoor lectures, hours of waiting around, and outdated ceremonial drills. 'Not only are you not going to learn anything effective, you're going to fire a couple of bullets, sit through lectures, mow lawns, stand guard duty – all the things associated with a spit-and-polish military,' Mike Hunzeker, a former US Marine officer who has trained Taiwanese units, told CNN. US officials, not authorized to speak openly, quietly warn that Taiwan's reserve forces remain the soft underbelly of its defense posture. One official said millions of former conscripts exist 'on paper,' but years of truncated service and minimal refresher training have left them 'underprepared for modern warfare.' Past CNN interviews with former conscripts paint a bleak picture: decades-old rifles shared between units, cannon and mortar training with little or no live ammunition, and conscripts left idle or tasked with meaningless chores. While there are no official estimates for the number of illegal draft-dodgers, a tally by the Ministry of the Interior shows that, from 2021 to 2023, cases of suspected obstruction of military service have risen from 309 to 553. 'It is imperative to reform military service as quickly as possible,' said Wu Tzu-li, an associate research fellow at the INDSR. 'After all, the fight ultimately comes down to the people operating the weapons and not the weaponry itself, so having solid education and training is crucial.' Taiwan's military conducts its first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) live-fire test launch at the Jiupeng base in Pingtung, Taiwan May 12, 2025. Ann Wang/Reuters Attempts at reform Even Taiwan's leaders have acknowledged the problem. Shortly after taking office in 2016, former President Tsai Ing-wen called for sweeping reform, as opposed to 'papering over problems, wasting human resources, and operating inefficiently in so many different ways.' In response to growing security threats from Beijing, which conducted at least three large-scale military exercises around Taiwan last year, and sent warplanes, naval vessels and coast guards close to the island on a near-daily basis – Taiwan's government has extended training time for conscripts and introduced reforms such as more live-fire drills and an emphasis on modern tactics. As of January 2024, the minimum active-duty period was increased to one full year, up from just four months under the previous policy. These changes seem to be gradually bearing fruit. Alex Chang, a recent conscript in his mid-20s who spoke to CNN, observed that training has intensified since the extension of mandatory military service. 'The sounds of bullets firing and grenades exploding have been going non-stop on the training ground,' he said. The changes' effectiveness remains to be seen. Critics say that unless Taiwan revamps how – and what – soldiers are taught, young men will continue to view the draft as symbolic rather than strategic. 'The key is what kinds of training will be provided to the new conscripts,' said Chieh. 'It's important to not let them feel they've wasted one year.' Another US official added that 'Taiwan is making good progress in enhancing the realism of training for reservists, but still has work to do in updating their equipment and reforming the organization of reserve units.' 'Retraining and equipping existing reservists to operate asymmetric platforms like drones and anti-air missiles will have an outsized impact on Taiwan's ability to deter conflict.' In a statement to CNN, the Defense Ministry said: 'Military service is a civic duty prescribed in the constitution. Any attempt to evade conscription by any means should be condemned and subject to legal actions.' It added that the new, extended one-year training period 'enables conscripts to undergo systematic and comprehensive military training, including enlistment, stationing, specialization, base training, and joint exercises – equipping them with essential combat skills and a firm resolve to defend the nation.' K-pop band BTS members RM, left, and V salute after being discharged from a mandatory military service in Chuncheon, South Korea, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Ahn Young-joon/AP Korean contrast In nearby South Korea – another place marked by long-running hostility with its nearest neighbor – military service is taken a lot more seriously, and counting down the days until major celebrities will park their careers to don military fatigues has become something of a national pastime. Rather than damaging reputations, military service is often seen as a sign of integrity and patriotism in major stars – an impression that can enhance their careers after taking off the uniform. Earlier this month, K-pop superstars RM and V, from the band BTS, became the latest high-profile conscripts discharged from national service. They each saluted upon their release from duty in Chuncheon city, after about 18 months of active service, to the cheers of about 200 gathered fans – some of whom traveled from Mexico, Turkey and Brazil. The other five members of the massively popular group either have completed or will complete the mandatory service, and the band expects to reunite within the next 12 months. Even soccer superstar Son Heung-min, who avoided conscription through an exemption after winning gold at the 2018 Asian Games with South Korea's national team, has taken four weeks of basic military training. For Taiwan to restore faith in conscription, military analysts say, it will need to reduce loopholes, improve instruction, and modernize training to reflect real threats – particularly as tensions with Beijing intensify. It will also, they say, need a cultural shift: one that values service not as empty symbolism, but as preparation for a possible fight. But it depends whether the recent reforms take root. 'The fear,' said one former conscript, 'is that the new system will look just like the old one – only longer.'
