A shocking new report by Rete l’Abuso, Italy’s largest association representing survivors of church-related sexual abuse, has alleged that nearly 4,400 individuals — including children, adults, nuns, and people with disabilities — have been victims of abuse by Catholic priests in Italy. The data, released on Friday, once again places intense pressure on the country’s bishops and the Vatican to confront what has become one of the Church’s gravest global scandals.
According to Francesco Zanardi, the founder of Rete l’Abuso, the figures are based on victims’ testimonies, judicial documents, and media reports collected since 2020. The association did not specify the full timeframe of the alleged abuses, many of which are believed to have occurred over decades.
The Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI) declined to comment on the report’s findings. The Vatican’s Commission for the Protection of Minors had already criticized the CEI last week for failing to take adequate measures to address systemic abuse and improve accountability within dioceses.
Most Cases Involve Priests; Victims Include Children, Nuns, and Disabled Adults
The report reveals that out of 1,250 documented abuse cases, 1,106 were allegedly committed by priests, while others involved nuns, religious educators, lay volunteers, and scout leaders. Rete l’Abuso said the total number of victims — referred to as “survivors” — reached 4,625, with 4,395 abused by priests alone.
Disturbingly, 4,451 of the survivors were minors, and the majority, about 4,108, were male. The group also documented the abuse of five nuns, 156 vulnerable adults, and 11 individuals with disabilities.
Of the 1,106 priests accused, only 76 were subjected to canonical trials, according to the association. Among them, 17 were temporarily suspended, seven were transferred to other parishes, and 18 were either defrocked or resigned from the priesthood. The report added that five of the accused priests died by suicide.
The global Catholic Church has long faced scrutiny over sexual abuse scandals, but Italy — home to the Vatican — has been accused of lagging behind other nations in addressing the issue transparently. The Vatican’s October 16 report noted that only 81 out of 226 Italian dioceses responded to a questionnaire about safeguarding policies, reflecting persistent resistance to institutional accountability.
Recently appointed Pope Leo met with survivors for the first time this week, urging bishops not to conceal allegations of misconduct. His predecessor, the late Pope Francis, made tackling clerical abuse a central goal of his papacy, though many critics argue progress has been slow and uneven.
