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If the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.Ps 127:1

Life & Family Journey to France

Pope Leo XIV meets 7 French abuse victims in Lourdes

First source report

Catholic IntelligenceUpdated 1 min read

Pope Leo XIV met with seven French victims of clerical sexual abuse on Sunday, Sept. 27, during his visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. The nearly two-hour meeting took place at the residence of the local bishop and included individual conversations with four men and three women.

According to the Holy See Press Office, the pope spent an hour and a half speaking to each person individually before addressing the group for about 20 minutes. During the encounter, Leo thanked the victims for their testimony and reaffirmed his commitment to preventing further harm. He also prayed with some of the participants.

Victims described the meeting as an emotional experience. Jérôme Guillement noted that the pope appeared sincere and chose his words carefully. Another participant, Olivier Mardi, said the pope showed resolve and understood the need for continued vigilance.

AI-assisted briefing based on the sources below.

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More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 12:16 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  3. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  4. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  5. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
  6. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova and Notre Dame universities
  7. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  8. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  9. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  10. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  11. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  12. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  13. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  14. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Italian municipalities' representatives
  15. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  16. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  17. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV warns against AI use in life-or-death decisions
  18. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  19. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  21. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  22. Oct 31, 7:34 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold candlelight procession for peace at St Mary Major on October 31
  23. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  24. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  25. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

More Catholic news

Earlier version, Monday 28 September

Pope Leo XIV meets 7 abuse victims in Lourdes

Earlier version, Sunday 27 September

Pope Leo XIV meets 7 abuse survivors in Lourdes

Earlier version, Sunday 27 September

Pope Leo XIV to meet abuse victims in Lourdes

How the coverage unfolded

  1. Sep 25, 1:34 PM Vatican News Français À Lourdes, Léon XIV a rendez-vous avec les victimes d'abus
  2. Sep 27, 11:35 AM Vatican News HY Լեւոն ԺԴ.-ի հանդիպումը եկեղեցականներու կողմէ բռնութեանց եւ չարաշահումներու ենթարկուած զոհերուն հետ
  3. Sep 27, 11:44 AM Vatican News Deutsch Papst trifft sieben Missbrauchsopfer in Lourdes
  4. Sep 27, 11:43 AM ACI Stampa Italiano Papa Leone XIV incontra sette vittime di abusi da parte di membri del clero di Francia
  5. Sep 27, 12:00 PM Agência Ecclesia Português França: Papa reuniu-se com vítimas de abusos, assumindo compromisso para que «o mal vivido não se repita»
  6. Sep 27, 11:31 AM Vatican News Čeština Papež se sešel s oběťmi zneužívání
  7. Sep 27, 12:40 PM OSV News At Lourdes, Pope Leo XIV holds private meeting with abuse survivors
  8. Sep 27, 12:35 PM The Catholic Sun At Lourdes, Pope Leo XIV holds private meeting with abuse survivors
  9. Sep 27, 11:52 AM Vatican News Español En Francia en el Papa escucha y reza con las víctimas de abusos
  10. Sep 27, 12:28 PM Vida Nueva Español Las víctimas de abusos, con León XIV: “Perdí la fe, hoy la he recuperado”
  11. Sep 27, 11:55 AM Vatican News Lietuvių Popiežius susitiko su seksualinio išnaudojimo aukomis
  12. Sep 27, 11:52 AM Vatican News Română Leon XIV a avut o întâlnire privată la Lourdes cu unele victime ale abuzurilor
  13. Sep 27, 2:27 PM Alfa y Omega Español El Pontífice se ha reunido durante casi dos horas con algunas víctimas de abusos
  14. Sep 27, 1:59 PM Vatican News Português Vítimas de abusos em Lourdes: “o Papa nos ouviu com profunda atenção”
  15. Sep 27, 3:07 PM America Pope Leo meets with survivors of abuse in Lourdes
  16. Sep 27, 3:07 PM National Catholic Register Pope Leo Meets French Abuse Victims in Lourdes
  17. Sep 27, 4:53 PM Aleteia Español En Lourdes, León XIV reconoce la “naturaleza sistémica” del abuso sexual dentro de la Iglesia
  18. Sep 27, 7:40 PM kath.net Deutsch Papst Leo XIV. trifft Missbrauchsbetroffene in Lourdes
  19. Sep 27, 9:22 PM La Croix Français Léon XIV à Lourdes : des victimes assurent que le pape a reconnu le caractère « systémique » des abus sexuels dans l’Église
  20. Sep 28, 12:49 AM cath.ch Français Léon XIV reconnaît le caractère systémique des abus sexuels devant des victimes
  21. Sep 28, 1:00 AM CBCP News Pope Leo meets French abuse victims in Lourdes
  22. Sep 28, 1:49 AM Famille Chrétienne Français Les victimes d’abus rencontrées par le pape à Lourdes saluent une « écoute profonde »
  23. Sep 28, 6:41 AM The Tablet At Lourdes, Pope Leo XIV Holds Private Meeting With Abuse Survivors
  24. Sep 28, 7:26 AM Crux ‘This brought me reconciliation’: Abuse survivors praise Sunday’s meeting with Pope Leo
  25. Sep 28, 1:20 PM CathNews Australia Abuse survivors who met with Pope seek Church action

More on Pope Leo XIV

  1. Oct 31, 12:16 PM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Francesco Cavina as Special Apostolic Visitator for Medjugorje
  2. Oct 31, 11:45 AM PT · 31 sources Pope Leo XIV votes by mail in US midterm elections
  3. Oct 31, 11:24 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV backs Oleshky evacuation
  4. Oct 31, 11:15 AM PT Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  5. Oct 31, 10:37 AM PT · 15 sources Pope Leo XIV casts mail-in ballot in US midterm elections
  6. Oct 31, 10:35 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV receives 7,000 pilgrims from Villanova and Notre Dame universities
  7. Oct 31, 10:32 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  8. Oct 31, 10:17 AM PT · 8 sources Pope Leo XIV receives delegations from earthquake-affected municipalities in Central Italy
  9. Oct 31, 10:16 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed push to rebuild after earthquakes
  10. Oct 31, 9:51 AM PT · 54 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru
  11. Oct 31, 9:48 AM PT · 10 sources Pope Leo XIV chooses theme for 101st World Mission Day
  12. Oct 31, 9:45 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV receives participants in Pontifical Academy for Life meeting
  13. Oct 31, 9:41 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV sets prayer intention for November 2026
  14. Oct 31, 9:07 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV meets Italian municipalities' representatives
  15. Oct 31, 8:38 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV selects theme for 101st World Mission Day
  16. Oct 31, 8:29 AM PT · 6 sources Pope Leo XIV Appoints New Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication
  17. Oct 31, 8:26 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV warns against AI use in life-or-death decisions
  18. Oct 31, 8:23 AM PT · 4 sources Pope Leo XIV: AI decisions on human life must never be delegated
  19. Oct 31, 8:15 AM PT · 5 sources Pope Leo XIV's charity reaches 2,000 children in Ukraine
  20. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 14 sources Pope Leo XIV approves safeguards for Holy See employees
  21. Oct 31, 8:00 AM PT · 13 sources Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 Synod undersecretaries
  22. Oct 31, 7:34 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV to hold candlelight procession for peace at St Mary Major on October 31
  23. Oct 31, 7:31 AM PT · 2 sources Bishop Arturo Eduardo Fajardo expects Pope Leo XIV to revive faith in Uruguay
  24. Oct 31, 7:30 AM PT · 3 sources Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru
  25. Oct 31, 6:56 AM PT · 2 sources Pope Leo XIV presented with book on Eucharistic miracle

More coverage of Pope Leo XIV

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