The Catholic Church has announced plans to compensate 57 victims of sexual abuse with a total of €1.61 million, three years after a damning inquiry exposed widespread abuse.
The findings came from the Independent Commission for the Study of Child Sexual Abuse, which revealed in 2023 that at least 4,815 minors had suffered abuse within the Church since 1950.
According to a joint statement by the Portuguese Episcopal Conference and the Conference of Religious Institutes of Portugal, 95 compensation claims were received, with 57 approved and 28 rejected.
Payments to victims — including children and vulnerable adults — will range between €9,000 and €45,000.
The Church acknowledged that financial compensation cannot erase the trauma but described the move as an effort to recognise victims’ suffering and offer some form of reparation.
The 2023 report, based on over 500 testimonies, found that abuse cases had been systematically concealed by Church authorities.
Following the revelations, Pope Francis met with 13 victims during World Youth Day 2023, where Church leaders also publicly asked for forgiveness.
