'Scourge' of abuse must be rooted out, says Pope, during Lourdes visit
Pope Leo XIV demanded that French church leaders eliminate the "scourge" of clerical sexual abuse during a visit to the Sanctuary of Our Holy Lady of Lourdes. Speaking to bishops during his four-day trip to France, the pontiff urged the greatest vigilance and a commitment to ensuring past evils are not repeated. The papal visit included a private meeting with child sexual abuse survivors, an extraordinary encounter described as a pledge of action. Pope Leo also presided over large public services, criticized assisted dying as false compassion, and prepared to conclude his tour in Metz.
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- ✓ Pope Leo called on French bishops to root out the scourge of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic church.
- ✓ The Pope urged bishops to maintain the greatest vigilance ahead of a meeting with abuse survivors.
- ✓ Pope Leo delivered the message to bishops during a private meeting at the Sanctuary of Our Holy Lady of Lourdes in southern France.
- ✓ A 2021 inquiry found that clergy or lay members of the Church had abused about 330,000 people as children in France over 70 years.
What changed
Pope Leo delivered a direct demand to French bishops to root out clerical abuse before holding a private meeting with survivors in Lourdes.
Live updates
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Pope Leo Urges French Bishops to Eradicate Abuse at Lourdes
Pope Leo XIV demanded that French church leaders eliminate the "scourge" of clerical sexual abuse during a visit to the Sanctuary of Our Holy Lady of Lourdes. Speaking to bishops during his four-day trip to France, the pontiff urged the greatest vigilance and a commitment to ensuring past evils are not repeated. The papal visit included a private meeting with child sexual abuse survivors, an extraordinary encounter described as a pledge of action. Pope Leo also presided over large public services, criticized assisted dying as false compassion, and prepared to conclude his tour in Metz.
Why it matters
The papal visit takes place against the backdrop of a major 2021 independent inquiry revealing that clergy or lay members of the French Catholic Church abused roughly 330,000 children over a seventy-year period. France has grappled with the massive fallout from these findings, which triggered widespread calls for reparations and structural reform. Pope Leo addressed these deep systemic wounds directly before meeting with survivors at the renowned southern French pilgrimage site.
What is confirmed
- Pope Leo called on French bishops to root out the scourge of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic church.
- The Pope urged bishops to maintain the greatest vigilance ahead of a meeting with abuse survivors.
- Pope Leo delivered the message to bishops during a private meeting at the Sanctuary of Our Holy Lady of Lourdes in southern France.
- A 2021 inquiry found that clergy or lay members of the Church had abused about 330,000 people as children in France over 70 years.
- Pope Leo criticized the legalization of assisted dying as immoral false compassion.
What to watch next
- Pope Leo XIV concluding his four-day official visit to France with a mass in the northeastern city of Metz.
- Further announcements or policy implementations regarding church reparations and survivor support in France.
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (24)
- AP News — Pope urges protection of weakest at French shrine at Lourdes known for miraculous cures
- BBC — 'Scourge' of abuse must be rooted out, says Pope, during Lourdes visit
- AP News — Thousands of victims, millions in reparations. How France handled mass church sex abuse
- Reuters — Pope Leo urges Church to face failings before meeting French abuse survivors
- South China Morning Post — Pope meets victims of sex abuse, urges ‘wise leaders’ as French election looms
- The Guardian — Pope Leo urges healing of ‘deep wounds’ before meeting child sexual abuse survivors in France
- France 24 — Pope Leo to meet clergy sexual abuse victims in Lourdes
- Yahoo — Pope urges Church to face failings ahead of abuse survivors meeting
- Le Monde.fr — Pope Leo XIV to meet with French survivors of sexual abuse in Lourdes
- CBS News — Pope Leo criticizes legalization of assisted dying as immoral "false compassion"
- dw.com — Pope decries 'scourge' of sexual abuse, holds Mass in Lourdes during France visit
- Vatican News — Pope to abuse victims: I am committed to ensuring this evil is not repeated
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