Watch: Juan Carlos Cruz talks his friendship with Pope Francis

On June 18, Juan Carlos Cruz—a Chilean-born abuse survivor, gay Catholic and member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors—delivered a keynote address during the Outreach conference at New York’s Church of St. Paul the Apostle. Listen to his talk below on Pope Francis and his close relationship with LGBTQ Catholics.

“Pope Francis met me with open arms—not of tolerance, but acceptance. He looked at me not as a symbol of controversy, but as a fellow human being deserving of love and respect,” said Cruz.