Pope Leo XIV has reiterated his commitment to tackling sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church after meeting seven survivors of abuse by French priests in Lourdes.
The Vatican said the Pope thanked the survivors for sharing their painful experiences and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that others do not suffer similar abuse.
“He thanked them for their painful testimony and reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the evil they experienced is not repeated against others,” the Vatican said.
Survivors say Pope listened closely
Five of the survivors later told a press conference that the Pope appeared to have a “deep understanding” of the issue, welcoming the attention he gave to the subject.
The private meeting lasted approximately two hours.
Olivier Mardy, co-founder of the Voix Libérées de Touraine collective, said the Pope was “very attentive” and listened closely to those who spoke.
Pope Leo held individual 15-minute meetings with each survivor, followed by a group discussion.
One survivor said the Pope acknowledged the “systemic” nature of the abuse.
Four-day visit to France
Pope Leo XIV is on a four-day tour of three French cities, as the Catholic Church continues efforts to rebuild trust following revelations over the sexual abuse of minors by clergy.
The disclosures in 2021 caused widespread shock in France and intensified scrutiny of the Church’s handling of abuse.
The Lourdes meeting formed part of the Pope’s renewed commitment to addressing the issue and preventing further abuse within the Church.
Source: CNA
