Pope Leo XIV on Saturday said sexual abuse within the Catholic Church remained “an open wound” as he began a trip to Spain that will include a meeting with victims.
The 70-year-old’s week-long state visit — the first by a pontiff to Spain since 2010 — kicked off at Madrid airport, where King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed him.
He is due to meet some victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, the Vatican said, with Leo telling reporters on the papal plane upon arrival that the issue was “still an open wound”.
