Pope Francis’ handling of clergy sexual abuse has been a defining and tumultuous chapter of his papacy, marked by early missteps, public outcry, and eventual reform. Few incidents illustrate this evolution more clearly than his 2018 trip to Chile, where his fierce defense of Bishop Juan Barros accused of covering up abuse by notorious pedophile priest Fernando Karadima sparked outrage. His dismissal of accusations as “slander” not only alienated victims but triggered a firestorm in Chile.
In a rare moment of papal humility, Francis reversed course. He ordered an investigation, publicly apologized, and accepted the resignations of Chile’s entire episcopate a dramatic pivot that signaled a new direction for the Vatican on abuse accountability.
Despite his initial inexperience having never dealt with abuse cases as Archbishop of Buenos Aires Francis did take early steps, such as creating a papal commission on abuse and appointing Cardinal Sean O’Malley as its head. However, internal resistance limited its impact, and key recommendations, like establishing a tribunal for negligent bishops, were shelved.
The crisis deepened with revelations about U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Although Francis removed McCarrick and ordered a canonical trial, his actions were overshadowed by allegations from former Vatican ambassador Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who accused Francis of ignoring early warnings. A subsequent Vatican report largely absolved the pope but exposed decades of institutional failure.
Francis responded with sweeping reforms. In 2019, he convened a global summit of bishops, eliminated the pontifical secrecy surrounding abuse cases, and introduced mandatory internal reporting rules. These steps aimed to dismantle the “clericalism” he saw as enabling abuse and impunity.
Yet, criticisms persist. Francis’ defense of Argentine Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta, later convicted of abuse, and his role in undermining victims of Rev. Julio Grassi during his time in Buenos Aires, raise questions about his consistency.
While Pope Francis has advanced the Church’s accountability mechanisms, his journey reflects a painful learning curve. His legacy on abuse will ultimately be judged not only by the policies he enacted, but by the courage he showed or lacked in confronting the Church’s darkest truths.
