Nearly 4,400 people have been abused by Catholic priests in Italy in cases reported since 2020, according to a victims’ association that urged church leaders to confront what it called a deepening moral crisis within the clergy.
The figures, released on Friday by Rete l’Abuso, Italy’s largest network for survivors of church-related sexual abuse, are based on victims’ testimonies, court documents, and media reports. The group’s founder, Francesco Zanardi, said the tally was unofficial but reflected “a persistent pattern of silence and denial.”
The organization did not specify how far back the alleged cases dated. According to its report, Rete l’Abuso documented 1,250 suspected incidents of abuse—most involving priests—with 4,625 total victims identified. Of these, 4,395 were allegedly abused by clergy members.
The report found that the majority of victims were male and under 18. Among the survivors, 156 were vulnerable adults, 11 had disabilities, and five were nuns. Out of 1,106 priests accused, only 76 were subjected to church trials, while 18 were defrocked or resigned. Seventeen were temporarily suspended, seven were reassigned to other parishes, and five reportedly died by suicide.
The Italian Bishops Conference (CEI), which was criticized last week by the Vatican’s child protection commission for limited transparency, declined to comment on the new findings. The commission said in an October 16 report that only 81 of Italy’s 226 dioceses had responded to its survey on safeguarding practices.
Pope Leo, who met with survivors of clerical abuse for the first time this week, has urged bishops “not to hide misconduct allegations,” reiterating a call for accountability within the Church. His predecessor, Pope Francis, made combatting sexual abuse a hallmark of his papacy, though many activists say reform efforts remain uneven.
The Catholic Church in Italy has faced growing scrutiny for what critics describe as a culture of secrecy and reluctance to investigate historical abuse claims. Rete l’Abuso said its findings underscore “the urgent need for full transparency and justice for survivors,” warning that partial measures would only deepen the public’s mistrust in the Church.
