Pope Leo to Meet 7 Abuse Survivors in Lourdes During France Trip
- On Friday, Pope Leo XIV begins a four-day visit to France, culminating on Sunday in Lourdes where he will meet privately with seven survivors of clerical sexual abuse.
- A landmark 2021 report found that 330,000 French children were abused by Catholic clergy over seven decades, sparking nationwide shock and fueling ongoing demands for institutional accountability.
- The seven participants stated, "Dialogue does not mean endorsement. Being received does not mean giving up our demands," emphasizing they do not represent all victims of Church abuse.
- Beyond the Lourdes meeting, Pope Leo will meet French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace and address UNESCO staff, culminating with a speech on peace in Metz.
- Critics note that survivors were excluded from the selection process managed by bishops rather than victims, as activists argue words of compassion are "no longer enough" to address systemic abuse.
132 Articles
132 Articles
Anina Pommerenke, ARD-current, to meet Pope Leo XIV with victims of sexual abuse
Among the most significant commitments is a private meeting outside the public agenda with victims of sexual violence in the ecclesial sphere.
According to one report, 330,000 French children were victims of sexual violence by members of the Catholic clergy and lay leaders over seventy years, between 1950 and 2020.
The errors of the church also haunt the Pontiff to France. In Lourdes mosaics were hidden at a church, she had once designed a suspected abuser.
In recent years you have faced with determination the painful scourge of the abuses committed against minors by members of the clergy or in an ecclesial context. You have taken courageous measures to respond through listening, the search for truth, justice, forgiveness and reparation, and through a firm commitment to a culture of prevention and [...] The article "Indispensable to recognize our mistakes": in Lourdes the Pope returns to talk about…
Leo XIV in France: Mass Bathing with 800,000 Faithful, Trip to Lourdes and Zero Tolerance for Abuses
The pontiff will meet with seven victims in a country where an investigation estimated 330,000 minors abused in 70 years
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 39% of the sources lean Left, 39% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
