Pope Leo met on Monday with British investigative writer Gareth Gore, who has written a 2024 book alleging that Opus Dei - a Catholic religious community with about 85,000 members in 70 countries - covered up sexual and financial crimes and exercises deep emotional control over its adherents. Gore told the pope he wanted a formal inquiry into the organisation, the author said after the audience.
The Vatican press office said the pope agreed to the meeting because he wanted to listen first-hand to Gore's allegations. While the pope meets with a wide variety of people on a regular basis, private meetings with journalists are uncommon.
Opus Dei, which identifies itself as "Work of God," was founded in 1928 by a Spanish priest and teaches that Catholics should seek holiness through their work. The majority of its roughly 85,000 members are laypeople rather than clerics; many maintain strict spiritual practices and some choose to remain celibate.
Gore's book includes multiple accusations. Among them, he alleges that the group has covered up sexual and financial crimes, exerts emotional control over its members and uses its influence to commit financial fraud. The organisation has strongly rejected Gore's account. In a 2024 statement, Opus Dei said the book was "littered with twisted facts."
The organisation is noted for its close relationship with the Vatican. Many Vatican employees are Opus Dei members, including at least two former directors of the Vatican's press office. The group also has a strong presence in Peru - a country where, according to the information provided, Leo served as a missionary for decades before becoming pope.
The organisation did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the pope's meeting on Monday.
Context and immediate developments
Gore said after the meeting that he had formally requested the pope to initiate an inquiry. The Vatican's characterization of the meeting stressed the pope's desire to hear the claims directly rather than through intermediaries.
Opus Dei's categorical denial – calling the book full of distorted facts – remains the group's official response to the allegations as reported. Details on any follow-up steps by Vatican authorities were not provided.
What remains unclear
- No formal Vatican inquiry into the allegations has been announced.
- Opus Dei's broader response to the pope's private meeting was not immediately available.
- Any potential next steps by either the Vatican or civil authorities are not detailed in the available information.