VATICAN CITY – Pope Leo XIV on Thursday instructed the Vatican’s doctrine office to uphold truth, justice, and charity when handling clergy sex abuse cases, signaling a measured approach to a scandal that has long damaged the Catholic Church’s credibility worldwide.

Addressing members of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office responsible for both policing doctrine and processing abuse cases, Leo emphasized the need to support religious superiors responsible for investigating and sanctioning priests accused of abusing minors.

“It is a very delicate area of ministry, in which it is essential to ensure that the requirements of justice, truth and charity are always honored and respected,” Leo said.

Observers noted that the pope did not directly mention victims in his speech, suggesting he sees the dicastery primarily as a church tribunal rather than a pastoral office. Survivors have increasingly turned to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which Leo appears to keep functionally separate from the doctrine office. No members of the survivor commission attended Thursday’s audience.

Leo, a canon lawyer and the first American pope, has taken a cautious stance on abuse cases, balancing attention to victims with concern for priests’ rights. In a closed-door meeting with cardinals earlier this month, he acknowledged that the abuse crisis continues and stressed that the Church must better listen to and accompany survivors.

“We cannot close our eyes or hearts,” Leo told the cardinals on Jan. 8. “The pain of the victims has often been greater because they did not feel welcomed or heard.”

After the doctrine office meeting, Leo met with members of Regnum Christi, the lay branch of the Legion of Christ religious order, which remains associated with one of the Church’s most notorious abuse cases. The Vatican sanctioned the order’s founder, Rev. Marcial Maciel, in 2006 after decades of credible reports of sexual abuse, fraud, and drug use.

During the audience, Leo focused on ongoing reforms within Regnum Christi, encouraging experimentation with governance models and the pursuit of collective responsibility. He stressed that leaders should guide members to grow spiritually while strengthening community participation.

“A truly evangelical government, moreover, is always oriented toward service: it supports, accompanies, and helps each member to become more like the savior every day,” Leo said.

He noted that while Vatican-imposed reforms from 2010 are ongoing, the organization still needs to define its spiritual mission, improve governance, and address the abuses of authority identified in past investigations.

Leo’s remarks indicate a careful, tribunal-focused approach to handling abuse cases while highlighting ongoing institutional reform efforts within the Church. (AP)