Irish Abuse Survivor Praises Pope Leo’s ’Empathy,’ Apology After Private Audience

Irish abuse survivor praises Pope Leo’s ’empathy,’ apology after private audience

(OSV News) — David Ryan, an Irish survivor whose tragic story of the abuse he and his brother suffered was the subject of a 2022 documentary, was overcome with emotion after meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. The pope was reportedly shocked and apologized to the Irish victim.  “I’ll never forget it,” Ryan told journalists outside the Santa Anna gate entrance to Vatican City Feb. 2, recalling the pope’s “sincerity” and “empathy.”  “He felt…

Irish abuse victim encounters Pope Leo: ‘He felt my pain’

Pope Leo XIV meets with David Ryan, a former student at Blackrock College in Ireland, and listens to his story of the abuse he and his late brother, ...

Pope apologises to Blackrock College abuse survivors David Ryan and his late brother Mark

‘I know it was genuine ... I really am so glad I’ve done it,’ says Ryan, who was abused at Blackrock College as a child

Pope Leo XIV apologises to Blackrock College abuse survivor in private audience at Vatican

Pope Leo XIV has made a heartfelt apology to abuse survivor David Ryan for the suffering he and his brother endured at the hands of paedophile Spiritan clerics in their Dublin school. Mr Ryan praised the Pope’s sincerity and empathy, saying that he will never forget yesterday’s meeting with the Pontiff at the Vatican. Mr Ryan, who featured in the RTÉ documentary Blackrock Boys, is the first survivor of abuse to have a private audience with Pope …

Pope Leo XIX apologises to Blackrock College abuse survivors

The Pope held a private audience at the Vatican Monday to discuss the abuse David Ryan and his brother suffered at Blackrock College and its preparatory scho...