‎A fresh report from an Italian victims’ group has revealed that almost 4,400 people have suffered abuse at the hands of Catholic priests in Italy since 2020, reigniting outrage over the Church’s handling of sexual misconduct cases.

‎The findings were released by Rete l’Abuso, Italy’s largest association for survivors of church-related abuse. The group said the figure was based on victims’ testimonies, court records, and media investigations collected across the country.

‎According to the association’s founder, Francesco Zanardi, the tally does not indicate when the incidents took place but represents cases reported within the past four years.

‎The Italian Bishops Conference (CEI) declined to comment on the report, even as pressure mounts on the clergy to address the crisis more openly. The Church in Italy has long been accused of turning a blind eye to abuse cases and protecting offending priests.

‎Most Victims Were Children and Young Boys

‎The report revealed that 1,250 abuse cases were recorded most involving priests while others were linked to nuns, religion teachers, lay volunteers, and scout leaders.

‎Rete l’Abuso documented 4,625 victims, of which 4,395 were allegedly abused by priests. Out of these, 4,451 were minors, and about 4,108 were male. The victims also included five nuns, 156 vulnerable adults, and 11 people with disabilities.

‎Out of the 1,106 accused priests, only 76 faced church trials. Of those, 17 were suspended, seven were transferred to other parishes, and 18 were either defrocked or resigned. The group added that five priests died by suicide before facing trial.

‎Church Under Scrutiny Once Again

‎This latest revelation comes at a time when the Catholic Church is under renewed scrutiny for how it manages sexual abuse allegations.

‎Pope Leo, who recently met survivors of clerical abuse for the first time, has urged bishops not to conceal cases of misconduct. His predecessor, Pope Francis, had also made confronting sexual abuse one of his top priorities during his 12-year papacy, though critics say progress has been slow.

‎Earlier this month, the Vatican’s child protection commission released a report sharply criticizing Italian dioceses for their lack of transparency. Out of the 226 dioceses in Italy, only 81 responded to the Vatican’s questionnaire on child protection measures.

‎As outrage grows, survivors and advocacy groups are demanding greater accountability, transparency, and justice for victims many of whom have carried their pain in silence for decades.