Pope Leo XIV speaks out on the Maricarmen case and calls for immediate political solutions to the housing crisis, questioning rearmament in Europe

Pope Leo XIV on Monday urged political leaders to promote solutions to housing problems to avoid situations like that of Maricarmen, the 87-year-old woman evicted last week in Madrid, whose case has sparked protests in different parts of Spain.

A case that the Pontiff considers "a good example"

During his return flight to Rome from Metz (France), where he concluded his fifth apostolic journey, the Pontiff offered a press conference to the journalists accompanying him. When asked about the so-called "real estate speculation," and referring to the case of Maricarmen Abascal, Leo XIV admitted that he does not know the specific file, but he did question what is "the problem in the system that allows an elderly woman, moreover with a disability, to be thrown out of her home."

The Pope stressed that the housing problem is present in a large number of countries and insisted that neither an individual nor "the Church itself" can solve it alone. In that context, he encourages identifying "the systemic cause" of the crisis, because, he said, "many times we only react at the moment of emergency."

Leo XIV maintained that there is "a great challenge" that also requires authorities and political leaders to find a solution, as the problem is "evidently increasing." In his opinion, Maricarmen's case constitutes "a good example" of the need for "the Church as a community" to work for "more just solutions."

"Listening to them and accompanying them" in cases of abuse

In the same appearance, the Pope referred to his meeting with seven victims of abuse within the Church, held during his visit to France. As he explained, he asked them to convey to other victims his willingness to "listen to them and accompany them," while acknowledging the "pain" that these situations have caused in their lives.

Asked about references to "systemic abuse," Leo XIV clarified that he prefers to express it differently, although he admitted that there are organizations within the Church that, at times, "have acted abusively as a system." In that context, he defined sexual abuse as "a human problem" that, when it occurs within the Church, acquires "a completely different dimension," because people's faith life is "deeply wounded" and, sometimes, even "destroyed."

Therefore, he recognized the institutional responsibility to accompany victims on "the path of healing."

Criticism of rearmament and appeal to dialogue

The Pope also referred to armed conflicts and rearmament in Europe. At this point, he warned that there is "a small number of people" who are enriching themselves thanks to an "industry that fosters war," with millions of dollars that, he pointed out, "could be used to solve problems such as world hunger, housing, unemployment, etc."

Leo XIV stated that the world needs a voice that offers another way and that does not limit itself to saying "let's spend more on weapons," because that dynamic, in his opinion, only increases tensions that could lead to "the outbreak of another war, another conflict." Against that logic, he urged to opt for dialogue as a way to avoid new military escalations.