Pope Leo urges Church to face failings before meeting French abuse survivors
The pope told bishops and pilgrims the Church must face abuse scandals and protect vulnerable people, citing a 2021 report estimating 330,000 victims in France.
- On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for approximately 150,000 pilgrims at Lourdes, urging the Catholic Church to admit its failings and "heal deep wounds" inflicted within its ranks.
- Following a 2021 report estimating 330,000 French children were abused by clergy over seven decades, French bishops established an independent compensation system recommending the Church pay more than €20 million .
- During the visit, Leo met privately with seven abuse survivors, while Lourdes Bishop Jean-Marc Micas ordered mosaics by artist Marko Rupnik covered to spare victims from confronting painful reminders of alleged abuse.
- Reiterating Catholic opposition to France's recent legislation permitting lethal medication, the Pope framed the shrine's welcome for sick pilgrims as a rejection of "current trends that seek to redefine the value of human life in illness."
- Concluding his trip on Monday in Metz, Leo urged religious leaders to promote peace, citing French statesman Robert Schuman's legacy of fostering unity among former rivals to prevent future conflict.
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295 Articles
Pope Leo meets abuse survivors in France
Pope Leo reaffirmed his commitment to ending abuse of children by Catholic priests in a meeting with French abuse survivors on Sunday, hours after the pontiff urged the Church to admit its own failings and heal its 'deep wounds.'
Pope urges religious leaders in France to preach peace as he recalls f
Pope Leo XIV, center, arrives, with, from left, Christian Krieger, president of the Protestant Federation of France, Bishop Dimitrios (Ploumis), the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of France, Haïm Korsia, Chief Rabbi of France, President of the French Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Chems-eddine Hafiz, rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, Anthony Boussemart, representing French Buddhists, and Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, prefect …
berlingske.dk
During a private meeting in France, Pope Leo thanked victims of sexual abuse for their "painful testimony."
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