Pope Leo XIV urged to expel abusers before Peru visit

Activists in Lima urged Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, Nov. 5, to permanently remove clergy found guilty of sexual abuse and church officials who covered up abuse, days before his trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.

US-based nonprofit Bishop Accountability held a press conference and presented a list of 77 clergy it said have been publicly accused of sexually abusing minors in Peru. The group called for a zero-tolerance decree.

Anne Barrett Doyle, the nonprofit's co-director, said such a decree could help address the scandal. Jose Escardo, president of the Survivors' Network of Abuse in Peru, said accused clergy should also be placed before the civil justice system.

The Vatican has said Leo, 71, will meet abuse victims during the trip but has not given details. The tour begins Friday, Nov. 6, and includes Peru, where Leo lived for nearly two decades as a missionary, parish priest and bishop.

Bishop Accountability said its list included high-ranking church officials among the alleged abusers, including Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani.