Pope Leo XIV to meet with 7 French abuse survivors

Pope Leo XIV will hold a private meeting in Lourdes on Sunday, September 27, with seven survivors of sexual abuse by priests and other Catholic personnel. The meeting is part of the pope's four-day visit to France.

The French Bishops’ Conference stated the group includes individuals who were abused as minors or adults in parishes, religious congregations, and Catholic schools. One participant reported abuse at the Notre-Dame de Bétharram private Catholic school, while another alleged abuse by the late Abbé Pierre. Another survivor was abused by Bernard Preynat, a laicized priest who admitted to abusing 75 boys.

In a joint statement, the seven survivors said they are participating in their own names to express their individual views and do not claim to represent all survivors or established organizations. They noted that engaging in dialogue does not mean they endorse the Church's actions or abandon their demands.

Critics of the Church are monitoring the meeting, with some questioning the decision to meet with selected individuals rather than representatives from established survivor organizations. The French Catholic Church has previously acknowledged its history of abuse and established an independent compensation system. A 2021 report estimated that 330,000 children in France were sexually abused by clergy, church workers, and volunteers over a period of seven decades.