Emotional Exchange as Abuse Survivor Meets Pope

Tags: Currents Catholic Education, Pope Francis, World News

Currents News Staff

Behind the scenes, the Pope is meeting with survivors in Rome for the summit on abuse and we’re learning details of one encounter that was visibly emotional.

An abuse survivor from Poland met the Holy Father and Francis kissed his hand.

Then the man, Marek Mielewczyk, showed the pope a childhood photo of when he was being abused.

Mielewczyk later spoke about the meeting, saying “I said I’m a child abuse victim from Poland in Spanish, and I was holding my photo the photo of me as a teenager. The Pope took my hand in his hands, he looked at me and I could see was teary eyed.”

Survivors like Mielewczyk say they re-live their trauma every time they share their stories and hope this historic meeting brings about change.