How Pope Francis's leadership dealt with the Catholic Church sex abuse crisis | DW News

The Catholic Church’s sex abuse crisis remains one of the most devastating chapters in its history. It was one of the biggest tests of Pope Francis’s leadership.

When Francis took office, the Church was in deep crisis. Thousands of victims had come forward. The pattern was clear: abuse by priests, and cover-ups at the highest levels. Francis promised zero tolerance. He met with survivors, created a special commission in the Vatican, and introduced new rules to hold bishops accountable. But critics say it wasn’t enough. That enforcement was weak and transparency came slowly. And for many survivors, justice never arrived.

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