Gianluigi Nuzzi Critiques Pope Francis on Pedophilia Response

Rome, Might 18, 2025 – Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi, famend for his investigative books exposing Vatican secrets and techniques, has voiced disappointment in Pope Francis’ dealing with of the Catholic Church’s pedophilia disaster, stating, “From Pope Francis, I anticipated extra towards pedophilia.” Nuzzi, whose works like Vaticano S.p.A. and Peccato Originale have spotlighted Church scandals, made the comment in a latest interview reflecting on the late pontiff’s legacy following his demise on April 21, 2025.

Nuzzi acknowledged Francis’ efforts to deal with clergy sexual abuse, together with the 2019 summit on baby safety and the 2021 revision of canon regulation to criminalize abuse explicitly. Nonetheless, he argued that Francis fell wanting delivering systemic change. “There have been bulletins, listening classes, however too typically, the Church’s response remained defensive, defending its picture over victims,” Nuzzi mentioned, pointing to circumstances the place bishops accused of cover-ups confronted minimal penalties. He cited the 2024 dismissal of Vatican whistleblower Monsignor Carlo Maria Viganò, who criticized Francis’ strategy, as a missed alternative for transparency.

Knowledge from the Vatican exhibits that between 2002 and 2022, over 1,200 credible abuse circumstances have been reported globally, with 3,000 monks defrocked since 2000. But, Nuzzi and critics on X notice persistent points, corresponding to delayed investigations and leniency towards high-ranking clergy. One X publish said, “Francis talked reform, however victims nonetheless look ahead to justice whereas bishops dodge accountability.” One other person countered, “He did greater than his predecessors—zero tolerance was his mantra.”

Nuzzi contrasted Francis with Pope Leo XIV, the brand new pontiff, who has pledged to prioritize sufferer assist and accountability. In his first homily on Might 9, Leo XIV referred to as abuse a “betrayal of the Gospel,” signaling a harder stance. Nuzzi expressed cautious optimism however urged concrete actions, like publicizing abuser lists and implementing common reporting protocols.

The journalist’s critique displays a broader debate about Francis’ legacy, with supporters crediting his compassion and critics, together with Nuzzi, arguing that bureaucratic resistance and Vatican politics diluted his reforms. As Pope Leo XIV’s papacy begins, the Church faces renewed strain to confront its previous decisively.