Cotesting Pope Leo XIV's Biden-esque Papacy Amidst Scandalous Allegations
The Pontiff forges connections between the globe's sections.
Robert Prevost, the first American-born Pope hailing from South America, is set to unify Catholics worldwide. His election, however, has been marred by allegations of misconduct in his past roles as a bishop in Peru and a leader within the church.
From Missionary to Cardinal
Born in the United States, Prevost has spent the majority of his life in Peru, working as a missionary, priest, and bishop. His social work extended to remote communities, where he inspired local people to participate in church-led projects.
Accusations Surface
Three women have accused Prevost of neglecting abuse cases in Peru. Amidst these claims, Sarah Pearson, a spokesperson for the survivor support network SNAP, voiced concerns about how Prevost handled such matters in the past.
The accused priests were not investigated, nor were their cases reported to Rome or Rome-based authorities, asserted Pearson. Prevost has denied these accusations, with both he and the diocese dismissing them.
Ultra-conservative Counterattack?
Peruvian investigative journalist Pedro Salinas refutes the allegations, instead positing them as a move by the ultra-conservative wing of the Catholic Church to discredit Prevost, who they view as too progressive. Salinas himself left the ultra-conservative Peruvian congregation Sodalicio, which was dissolved by Pope Francis in January 2024 due to its involvement in several sexual abuse cases.
SNAP's Demands
SNAP calls for a zero-tolerance policy for abuse within the church and demands comprehensive reforms, including the establishment of a compensation fund for victims, a revisited internal church office, and international legal agreements.
Future Outlook
Despite the ongoing accusations, Prevost's election sheds light on the significance of the church's role in areas plagued by poverty, as he has personally worked in such environments. As Leo XIV, Prevost will now expand this work across six additional continents. However, the impact of these accusations on his leadership remains uncertain.
Enrichment Data:The accusations against Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, center on allegations of mishandling abuse cases during his tenure as a bishop in Peru and as the provincial of the Augustinians in Chicago.
Investigation details:
- Peru Allegations: In September 2023, a television program in Peru reported allegations from three women who claimed that then-Bishop Prevost failed to act adequately against a priest accused of sexually abusing them as minors. While the diocese under Prevost removed the priest from his parish, suspended him from ministry, and conducted an investigation, the Vatican and local authorities found insufficient evidence to proceed with further action.
- Chicago Allegations: As provincial of the Augustinians, Pope Leo XIV allowed a priest accused of abuse to reside in a friary near a Catholic elementary school in Chicago. SNAP has criticized this decision, highlighting concerns about the handling of abuse cases.
- SNAP's Complaint: SNAP filed a complaint against Prevost under Pope Francis' 2023 decree "Vos estis lux mundi" on March 25, 2025, calling for decisive action on abuse management reforms.
Response and potential action:Pope Francis did not directly address these specific accusations in public statements. Nevertheless, he appointed Cardinal Prevost to significant roles, such as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, indicating a level of trust in his leadership. The Vatican's response to these allegations has been to emphasize the actions taken by Prevost, such as removing the accused priest from ministry and conducting investigations.
SNAP is now pressing for decisive action within the first 100 days of Pope Leo XIV's papacy, including the establishment of a Global Truth Commission, a Universal Zero Tolerance Law, international legal agreements, a reparations fund, and a Global Survivors Council. The extent to which Pope Leo XIV will address these demands remains to be seen.
- In light of the ongoing allegations, SNAP, a survivor support network, demands immediate action from Pope Leo XIV, including the creation of a Global Truth Commission and a Universal Zero Tolerance Law.
- Investigative reports claim that during his tenure as bishop in Peru, Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, allowed a priest accused of abuse to reside near a Catholic elementary school in Chicago, raising concerns about his handling of such matters.
- A spokesperson for SNAP, the survivor support network, claims that Pope Leo XIV, during his service as a bishop in Peru, did not investigate accused priests nor report their cases to Rome or Rome-based authorities.
- The election of Pope Leo XIV, an American-born Pope of Peruvian descent, has been mired in controversy, with allegations of mishandling abuse cases in Peru and Chicago threatening to overshadow his role in unifying Catholics worldwide.
