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Individuals who experienced abuse by church officials have voiced fresh optimism following their first meeting with the new Pope at the Vatican.

Gemma Hickey, who leads the anti-abuse organization, stated that the pontiff's choice to engage with them so early in his leadership sent a strong message about his commitment to tackling the problem.

Worldwide Zero-Tolerance Policy Advocated

The organization is advocating for a worldwide strict approach that would defrock any clergy member who confesses to or is found guilty of abusing a minor. This policy has already been adopted in the US.

The Pope acknowledged that there is "resistance in certain regions of the globe" to this proposal, according to the representative.

"We were all being realistic when we acknowledged that there is resistance," they stated.

Legacy Issue

The new Pope, who took the position in May, has taken on this persistent issue that has haunted the Church for many years.

Previous efforts to address the situation included an historic summit on paedophilia within the institution and changes to canon law to explicitly criminalize abuse.

Personal Link

For Hickey, who uses they/them pronouns, the drive for global implementation of the policy is deeply meaningful. The Canadian activist revealed they were abused by a clergy member who was later moved between various churches.

"We trust this will set the tone for his papacy, because we aim to work with him," Hickey expressed. "Both sides share the same goal, we seek to end clergy abuse."

Significant Encounter

Seven members of the organization, which represents victims and supporters from more than 30 nations, engaged with the Pontiff in his official residence.

The discussion, originally scheduled for a brief period, lasted to a full hour, during which the religious leader "mostly listened to us," according to the representative.

The pontiff was characterized as "quite empathetic" when listening to the story of a female survivor victimized at a Catholic residential school for native youth in Canada.

Hickey noted the Pope was "tender" about their personal experience and appeared "modest, funny, and very down to earth."

"Victims have consistently sought a voice in discussions and I didn't feel like he was giving us lip service," they stated. "I believed like he was sincere, practical, and receptive and keen to work with us."

Church Regulations Changes

The organization is hoping that changes to church regulations will facilitate the adoption of the zero-tolerance policy globally.

They have consulted specialists and compiled materials that they plan to submit to the pontiff.

"He seemed engaged in looking at it," Hickey noted.

Responsibility Emphasized

A recently released church-ordered report emphasized the "importance of a efficient process for the stepping down and/or removal of Church leaders or staff in cases of abuse or negligence."

The report also noted that victims repeatedly stressed the "critical requirement for bishops and major superiors to be held accountable for negligence and cover-up."

Path Ahead

The representative shared they told the Pope at the start of their meeting: "This is as much a risk for him to participate in a conversation as it was for us."

After the encounter, they voiced hope for progress.

"We realise it's not something that's going to happen overnight, but at the end of the day, uniting and establishing a relationship and continuing to build that bond is a step in the right direction," Hickey stated.

Hickey added that they shared with the pontiff: "Even though it's a difficult period, I believe like we can alter how the story ends - he valued that."