Pope Leo pledges action on clergy abuse after meeting French survivors

Pope Leo met with French survivors and bishops at the Sanctuary of Our Holy Lady of Lourdes to address the issue of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. During the visit, the Pope called upon French bishops to exercise the greatest vigilance and committed to rooting out the scourge of abuse from the institution.

The meeting follows the release of a 2021 report that documented widespread abuse within the French Catholic Church, an event that caused significant public shock. The Pope’s visit to the holy site served as a platform to formalize his pledge for institutional action and oversight regarding clergy misconduct.