The world watched on Thursday as the Vatican presented its new pope: Robert Francis Prevost, who will lead the Catholic Church under the name Leo XIV.
During his first speech as successor to the late Pope Francis, Leo XIV—who also marks history as the first American pope—called for peace, unity, and reconciliation around the world. However, as often happens at the start of any pontificate, a wave of media scrutiny has begun.
Did Pope Leo XIV Cover Up Clerical Abuse Cases?
Within hours of his appointment, questions began to emerge about Pope Leo XIV’s past, with allegations suggesting he may have played a role in covering up abuse cases in both Peru and Chicago.
At the center of the controversy is a complaint from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) submitted to the Vatican on April 30. Invoking Vos estis lux mundi, a directive from Pope Francis addressing accountability in abuse cases, the group accused Prevost of “actions or omissions intended to obstruct civil or canonical investigations” against members of the clergy.
Among six cardinals mentioned in the complaint, Prevost stands out due to his recent position as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a body responsible for overseeing investigations of episcopal negligence. Prevost held the role since 2023.
But what specific cases are being cited?
Chicago
Prevost led the Augustinians’ Midwest province from 1998 to 2010. During that time, Rev. Richard McGrath was allowed to continue as head of Providence Catholic High School regardless of allegations of child abuse and possession of child pornography. A reported $2 million settlement was made, but Prevost never clarified why McGrath remained in his role.
Another case involves James Ray, named in a 2023 Illinois Attorney General report with 13 accusations of child sexual abuse. Despite restrictions placed on Ray in 1990, Prevost allegedly allowed him to live in a convent near a Catholic school about a decade later without disclosing his history to school officials.
Peru
While serving in Chiclayo, Peru, Prevost encountered allegations against priests Eleuterio Vásquez Gonzáles and Ricardo Yesquén, accused of sexually abusing multiple women and girls.
According to survivors, reports were filed in 2022. Prevost allegedly promised to investigate, but no case was opened, and civil authorities were never alerted. In 2023, the Vatican closed the matter, citing the statute of limitations under Peruvian law.
SNAP is now demanding transparency from the Vatican, calling for a full inquiry and public disclosure of the findings. As Pope Leo XIV begins his pontificate, survivors and advocacy groups continue to express concern over his past decisions and their implications for accountability within the Church.
