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People who experienced sexual abuse by church officials have expressed fresh optimism after their initial meeting with Pope Leo at the Holy See.

The board president, heading the anti-abuse organization, commented that the Pope's decision to engage with them so soon in his papacy sent a strong message about his dedication to addressing the issue.

Worldwide Strict Approach Advocated

The group is pushing for a global strict approach that would permanently remove any priest who admits to or is found guilty of sexually abusing a child. This approach has been implemented in the US.

The Pontiff recognized that there is "resistance in some parts of the globe" to this initiative, according to the representative.

"We were all being realistic when we recognized that there is resistance," Hickey stated.

Legacy Issue

The current pontiff, who assumed the position in spring, has inherited this persistent issue that has plagued the Catholic Church for many years.

Earlier attempts to resolve the problem included an historic meeting on paedophilia within the institution and changes to canon law to explicitly criminalize abuse.

Deeply Felt Link

For Hickey, who uses they/them pronouns, the drive for global implementation of the policy is personal. The Canadian activist revealed they were victimized by a clergy member who was later transferred between various churches.

"We trust this will set the tone for his leadership, because we want to work with him," Hickey stated. "We have the common objective, we seek to end clergy abuse."

Historic Encounter

Multiple representatives of the coalition, which includes survivors and supporters from over thirty countries, met with the Pope in his Vatican office.

The meeting, initially planned for 20 minutes, lasted to a full hour, during which the Pope "primarily heard to us," according to Hickey.

The pontiff was characterized as "very understanding" when hearing the story of a woman abused at a church-run institution for Indigenous children in North America.

They added the Pope was "tender" about their own experience and seemed "modest, funny, and very down to earth."

"Victims have long wanted a seat at the table and I didn't feel like he was making empty promises," they commented. "I felt like he was sincere, practical, and very open and eager to collaborate with us."

Church Regulations Changes

The organization is hoping that revisions to canon law will facilitate the implementation of the zero-tolerance policy worldwide.

They have consulted specialists and gathered materials that they plan to present to Pope Leo.

"He seemed interested in looking at it," Hickey remarked.

Accountability Highlighted

A recently released Vatican-commissioned report emphasized the "importance of a streamlined protocol for the stepping down and/or dismissal of Church leaders or staff in cases of misconduct or failure to act."

The report also pointed out that survivors consistently emphasized the "urgent need for church leaders and major superiors to be held accountable for inaction and cover-up."

Moving Forward

Hickey revealed they told the Pope at the beginning of their meeting: "This represents as much a challenge for him to participate in a dialogue as it was for us."

After the meeting, Hickey voiced hope for progress.

"We understand it's not something that's going to happen overnight, but at the end of the day, coming together and building a connection and persisting to build that bond is a step in the correct path," Hickey commented.

They added that they told with the pontiff: "Even though it's a difficult period, I feel like we can change how the story concludes - he appreciated that."