By Joshua McElwee
BUENOS AIRES, Nov 9 - Pope Leo met with five victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy on Monday in Buenos Aires, the Vatican said, in the first of several expected meetings with survivors during the pontiff's 12-day trip to South America.
Leo, the first US-born pope, is on a three-country tour through November 17. He has met with survivors during several of his foreign visits, in an effort to help repair the Church's standing after abuse scandals have tarnished its reputation.
The meeting on Monday lasted more than an hour, the Vatican said, with Leo listening to the survivors' testimonies and reaffirming his commitment to strengthen the Church's safeguarding efforts.
"The Pope spoke individually with each of them, listening to their words, their painful personal stories, and their proposals for strengthening paths of healing within the Church," said a statement.
"To them, and through them to the other victims whom it was not possible to meet, the Pope expressed his closeness and his desire to strengthen paths of protection, goodness, welcome, and support within the Church," it said.
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Kylie Madry and Brendan O'Boyle)
