Pope Leo XIV confirms that priests should remain celibate and urges for decisive steps to be taken regarding sexual abuse within the Catholic Church

ROME — Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed Wednesday that priests must be celibate and emphasized that bishops should take “firm and decisive” action to address sexual abuse cases. During a meeting in St. Peter’s Basilica with bishops and cardinals from 38 countries participating in the special Holy Year celebrations for clergy, Leo provided instructions for the Catholic hierarchs.

Leo had delivered an inspiring message to young seminarians the day before, and he now presented a more detailed guide on the responsibilities of bishops in leading their congregations. Approximately 400 bishops and cardinals were present at the gathering in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The celibacy requirement for priests and the imperative for bishops to address cases of sexual abuse were highlighted during the meeting. Former Cardinal Robert Prevost, who formerly served as the prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Bishops, likely had contemplated these issues extensively during his tenure from 2023 until his election in May. In his previous role, Prevost was responsible for assessing bishop nominations for Pope Francis, seeking leaders who align with Francis’ vision of an inclusive church where dialogue plays a central role in governance.

History’s first American pope reaffirmed Wednesday that the primary role of bishops is to forge unity in his diocese among clergy and to be close to his flock in word and deed. Bishops must live in poverty and simplicity, generously opening their homes to all and acting as a father figure and brother to his priests, Leo said.

“In his personal life, he must be detached from the pursuit of wealth and from forms of favoritism based on money or power,” he said.

Bishops must remain celibate “and present to all the authentic image of the church, holy and chaste in her members as in her head,” he said.

The video in the player above is from a related report.

Referring to cases of abuse, he said bishops “must be firm and decisive in dealing with situations that can cause scandal and with every case of abuse, especially involving minors, and fully respect the legislation currently in force.”

It was the second time in a week that Leo has commented publicly on the abuse scandal. On Friday night, in a written statement to a crusading Peruvian journalist who documented gross abuses in a Peruvian Catholic movement, Leo said there should be no tolerance in the Catholic Church for any type of abuse. He identified sexual and spiritual abuses, as well as abuses of authority and power in calling for “transparent processes” to create a culture of prevention across the church.

Francis, who in many ways placed Leo in position to succeed him, had also reaffirmed celibacy for Latin rite priests while acknowledging it was a discipline of the church, not doctrine, and therefore could change. But he refused appeals from Amazonian bishops to allow married priests to address the priest shortage in the region.

Prevost spent two decades as a missionary and bishop in Peru and would know well those arguments. But on Wednesday he reaffirmed the celibate priesthood as the “authentic image” of the church.

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