Pope Leo XIV Accused of Covering Up Sexual Abuse: A Fact-Check Investigation

Pope Leo XIV Faces Accusations of Covering Up Sexual Abuse Cases: A Fact-Check Days before his election, Pope Leo XIV faced accusations of covering up sexual abuse cases in Peru and the United States. The most prominent case involves alleged abuse of three girls in Chiclayo, Peru, in 2004, more than a decade before Prevost became bishop. The diocese of Chiclayo received the complaint in 2022 and forwarded it to the Vatican. While civil charges were time-barred, the diocese pursued the matter ecclesiastically. In the US, similar accusations arose, focusing on Prevost's alleged inaction regarding a priest previously accused of abuse. However, this priest was no longer in active ministry. Some journalists suggest these accusations are part of a campaign to discredit the new Pope. They point to the Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana, a conservative organization dissolved by Pope Francis in 2025, as a possible source of the information. While the accusations are serious, currently, there is no conclusive evidence that Pope Leo XIV concealed crimes. The matter remains under investigation. The Diocese of Chiclayo released a statement addressing the allegations.