PPope Leo XIV Meets French Abuse Victims in Lourdes

Pope Leo XIV met with seven French victims of clerical sexual abuse on Sunday at the residence of the local bishop in Lourdes. The encounter lasted nearly two hours and included an hour and a half of individual conversations with four men and three women.

The Holy See Press Office stated that the pope addressed the group for approximately 20 minutes to thank them for their testimony. During this time, he reaffirmed his commitment to preventing further harm and expressed solidarity with all those suffering from abuse. The pope also prayed with some of the participants.

Victims described the meeting as emotional. Jérôme Guillement noted the sincerity of the pope's words, while Olivier Mardi said the pope appeared to be a man of resolve who understands the need for continued vigilance. Five of the seven participants had previously identified themselves before the trip, including Bertrand Virieux.