MADIRD, Spain (AFP) — The Spanish government and the Catholic Church signed an agreement Monday to compensate victims of sexual abuse by clergy in cases that can no longer be pursued through the courts.

The deal for the Church to pay reparations comes ahead of a June 6-12 visit by Pope Leo XIV, in what will be the first papal visit to the country since 2011.

Justice Minister Felix Bolanos said the deal, first reached in January, is aimed at victims who are unable to pursue legal action because the crimes have proscribed or the alleged abusers have died.

After signing the agreement in Madrid, Bolanos called it “a day of justice” for “the thousands of victims who suffered sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and were not only left without support, but were doubted and forgotten”.

Under the system, compensation will be determined on a case-by-case basis rather than through fixed guidelines.

The process will involve representatives from the government, the Church and Spain’s ombudsman, with the state having final authority over decisions.

The Church will be responsible for paying the compensation awarded.

Bolanos described the model as “pioneering worldwide”, saying it ensures state oversight while requiring the Church to provide reparations to victims.

Luis Arguello, president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), described the agreement as “a gesture” by the Church.

“Even though we are dealing with cases that are legally time-barred or where the accused have died, the Church wants to acknowledge its responsibility as part of the same body,” he said.

The agreement follows years of scrutiny over clerical abuse in Spain.

A 2023 report by Spain’s ombudsman found that more than 200,000 minors had suffered sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy since 1940.

That number could rise to 400,000 if abuse by laypersons in religious settings is included.

The Church’s own records list 1,057 “registered cases”, with 358 deemed “proven” or “credible”.

Unlike in other nations, in Spain — a traditionally Catholic country that has become highly secular — clerical abuse allegations only recently started to gain traction, thanks mainly to media reporting on the issue.

Church efforts to compensate abuse victims have long been inconsistent, with programmes and payouts varying widely around the world.