Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, is facing criticism from a survivors’ advocacy group that claims he overlooked allegations of child sexual abuse during previous church leadership roles.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) has raised concerns over his handling of abuse cases while serving as a senior official in Chicago in the early 2000s, and later while overseeing a diocese in Peru.
During his time as prior provincial of the Augustinian Order’s Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, Prevost permitted Father James Ray, who had a history of allegations, to be relocated to a friary near a school.
According to a 2021 report from the Chicago Sun-Times, Ray had been under restrictions barring him from public ministry due to concerns raised nine years earlier about a potential risk to minors.
Despite these restrictions, Ray was moved to the St. John Stone Friary, situated just one block from an elementary school. He remained there for two years before being relocated under child protection laws.
The Sun-Times reported that the nearby St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School was never informed of Ray’s prior conduct or the circumstances surrounding his assignment to the friary.
Allegations of mishandling abuse cases have also emerged from Prevost’s tenure in Peru, where he served as bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo for nearly a decade.
Catholic news outlet The Pillar reported that two priests in the diocese faced abuse accusations during that time, including a case brought forward by three sisters in 2007.
The women alleged sexual abuse by a priest, and Prevost reportedly advised them to seek justice through the civil courts while the Church carried out its review.
However, the church investigation was later dropped, citing insufficient evidence, a decision that has since drawn criticism from victim advocacy groups.
SNAP has expressed frustration over what it describes as a pattern of neglect and failure to prioritise the safety of children, particularly during Prevost’s leadership in Peru.
Lopez de Casas, a SNAP leader and clergy abuse survivor, told MailOnline that the group made efforts to alert cardinals to these concerns during the recent papal conclave.
“Remaining silent is a moral failure,” said de Casas. “We believe it is not in line with Christ’s teachings to overlook abuse for the sake of reputation or convenience.”
He added that SNAP had included Prevost on a “watchlist” of candidates they hoped would not be elevated to the papacy, expressing disappointment in the conclave’s final decision.
The Vatican acknowledged that the issue of sexual abuse was addressed during the conclave, calling it a “wound to be kept open,” signalling its continued relevance within Church discussions.
In a public letter following Prevost’s election, SNAP urged the new pope to establish a strict zero-tolerance policy on clergy abuse within his first 100 days, asking, “You can end the abuse crisis—the only question is, will you?”
