Advocacy group issues first warning to the new pope.

New Catholic pontiff Robert Francis Prevost 69, better known as Pope Leo XIV who Vatican presented to the world a few days back at St Peter’s Basilica, is being dragged by an advocacy group known as the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP). Below is a report Umuaka Times came across concerning the new Pope:

New Pope As many celebrate Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost’s historic selection as pope, the world’s largest organization for clergy sexual abuse victims is worried about the pontiff’s past handling of sexual abuse cases and called on him to take a tougher stance on the issue that has long plagued the Roman Catholic Church.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), a network that says it represents more than 25,000 victims and supporters worldwide, released a statement on the day of Pope Leo XIV’s selection expressing “grave concern” and urging him to “enact a truly universal zero tolerance law for sexual abuse and cover-up.”

The Chicago-born pontiff was chosen to lead the Vatican on May 8, just one day after the conclave to pick a successor to the late Pope Francis began. Prevost, 69, was born and raised in Chicago but went on to spend most of his career in Peru, first as a missionary and then as a bishop. He is a dual U.S.-Peruvian citizen.

Prevost’s ascension resurfaced concerns about his record on clergy sexual abuse during his tenure in Chicago and in Peru, including that he failed to do enough to address victims’ allegations.

The Vatican has denied Prevost engaged in any wrongdoing, and the former cardinal has drawn plaudits in other cases for helping address abuse threats. He has also advocated for more transparency on the topic from the church.

In an interview with the Peruvian newspaper La Republica, he denounced clergy sexual abuse and urged victims to come forward. In Peru, he helped dissolve an ultra-conservative Catholic movement Sodality of Christian Life after investigations uncovered years of sexual abuses, corruption and mismanagement, according to the Vatican News.Still, survivors are worried he will not take a tough enough stance to eradicate abuse within the church.Cases in Chicago, Peru spur questions of accountability and transparency

While Prevost led the Augustinians in Chicago in 2000, a priest whose former ministry years earlier had been restricted over allegations of child abuse, moved into an Augustinian monastery near a Catholic elementary school. Church officials at the time failed to notify the school and, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, church records even claimed there was no school nearby.

In 2006, the Illinois Attorney General added the priest, James Ray, to its public list of “abusive clerics and religious brothers,” claiming there were 13 reported survivors between 1974 and 1991. The Vatican has denied that Prevost permitted Ray to live at the monastery.

Prevost also faces allegations of inaction in connection with his time in northwestern Peru. While he served as a bishop in Chiclayo in 2022, three woman came forward with allegations that they were sexually abused by two priests beginning in 2007 when they were minors.

Pope Leo XIV conducts Mass in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on May 9, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV conducts Mass in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on May 9, 2025.

The victims said in a public statement that Prevost failed to thoroughly look into the allegations. They said, “no investigation was carried out, nor were the precautionary measures for the protection of the faithful, boys and girls … the case was filed and archived,” according to the National Catholic Reporter.

Two months before Prevost was elected pope, SNAP filed a complaint against him with the Vatican, claiming he failed to open an investigation and “sent inadequate information to Rome.”

Culled from USA Today.