Koen Van Sumere, a victim of abuse within the Church, announced on Friday that he would wait until his meeting with Pope Leo XIV, scheduled for September, before commenting on the election of the new Pope.
He is among 15 Belgian victims who met the late Pope Francis during his visit to Belgium in September 2024. “I will judge his actions, not the rumours,” Van Sumere stated.
The American organisation SNAP, which represents victims of sexual abuse in the Church, expressed “great concern” over the appointment of the new Pope.
According to them, Pope Leo XIV covered up past cases of abuse.
The association had previously sent a letter on this matter to the late Pope Francis. These accusations have been echoed in Belgium by Rik Devillé, a retired priest and advocate for victims.
A new meeting between the fifteen Belgian victims and the Pope is planned for Rome in September 2025. The passing of Pope Francis initially cast doubt on the meeting taking place, but Van Sumere confirmed that the Apostolic Nuncio has assured him it will proceed.
The exact date is yet to be determined. “I will only express my opinion on the Pope after this meeting. I want to see the outcomes first,” he concluded.
The Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, Luc Terlinden, expressed his belief that Pope Leo XIV will implement a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual abuse, continuing the approach established by his predecessor.
