Pope's meeting with abuse victims 'biased,' say Spanish survivors

Victims of sexual abuse who were not received by Pope Leo XIV during his visit to Madrid have criticized the pontiff's meeting with a select group of survivors, stating it offered him a "biased" view of the issue.

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We are happy for the victims who were able to be with the Pope, but we believe it does not reflect reality, and sadly, we see that the Church in Spain continues to silence and revictimize its victims and survivors.

Members of the association Infancia Robada (Stolen Childhood) expressed their regret that the Pope did not meet with the main associations representing victims. Juan Cuatrecasas, president of the national association, and José Luis Velasco, Madrid president and a victim himself, were outside the Apostolic Nunciature in Madrid, unable to meet with the Pope.

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The greatest enemy of truth is not lies, but silence, and in that silence of the victims they have been sheltering to cover up, to be in many cases accomplices and, certainly, to revictimize us.

"We are happy for the victims who were able to be with the Pope, but we believe it does not reflect reality," Cuatrecasas stated. "Sadly, we see that the Church in Spain continues to silence and revictimize its victims and survivors." He added that "the greatest enemy of truth is not lies, but silence," and that this silence has allowed the Church to cover up abuse, be complicit, and revictimize survivors.

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the Pope has heard an absolutely biased view of reality.

Velasco, a victim of pedophilia, echoed this sentiment, criticizing the Pope for hearing an "absolutely biased view of reality." Despite this criticism, Infancia Robada expressed satisfaction with the new system for recognizing abuse, agreed upon by the government, the Church, and the Ombudsman, describing it as a "clean, transparent, and very respectful process for victims."

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It is being a clean, transparent, very respectful process with the victims.