Pope Leo urges Church to face failings before meeting French abuse survivors
He called for safeguarding reforms and said the Church must face its past, as seven French abuse survivors prepared to meet him privately.
- On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV met with the French Episcopal Conference in Lourdes, France, asserting the Church possesses a "prophetic authority" and that its voice has "every right to be heard in the public square."
- Acknowledging the "painful scourge of abuse of minors committed by members of the clergy," the Pope commended French bishops for taking "courageous measures" to confront scandals while urging continued vigilance.
- Following these discussions, the Pope is scheduled to meet seven survivors of clergy abuse later on Sunday, as Local Church leaders work to repair standing after a 2021 report detailed 330,000 historical abuse cases.
- On Friday, the Pope reiterated Catholic opposition to assisted dying initiatives, arguing that welcoming sick pilgrims at Lourdes stands opposed to "current trends that seek to redefine the value of human life."
- Urging French Catholics to "reclaim their heritage of faith," Pope Leo emphasized that the Church's voice is needed to promote renewal and hope in society amid polarization and declining fraternity.
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Pope Leo was welcomed as a pop star in Paris, but there was also a gloomy chapter in church history on the agenda of his journey: in the pilgrimage site of Lourdes, Leo met victims of sexual violence.
The pontiff highlighted the measures taken by the Church in France and called for continued prevention and protection against these cases. During his visit to Lourdes, he also plans to meet with a group of seven victims.
Leo XIV appeals to the bishops to repair the damage of sexual abuse in the Church and meets today with seven victims in France. Also in this newspaper, Gonçalo Matias foresees an absolute majority of AD in 2029.
Pontiff stresses need for continued vigilance following years of abuse prosecution involving Catholic Church in France
Leo XIV begins to outline that his position on the scandal is to move on: praises the “firmity” of the country’s bishops against abuses, thanks them for their work and asks for “maximum vigilance”
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