Pope Leo urges Church to face failings before meeting French abuse survivors
- On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV met with the French Episcopal Conference in Lourdes, France, asserting the Church possesses a "prophetic authority" and that its voice has "every right to be heard in the public square."
- Acknowledging the "painful scourge of abuse of minors committed by members of the clergy," the Pope commended French bishops for taking "courageous measures" to confront scandals while urging continued vigilance.
- Following these discussions, the Pope is scheduled to meet seven survivors of clergy abuse later on Sunday, as Local Church leaders work to repair standing after a 2021 report detailed 330,000 historical abuse cases.
- On Friday, the Pope reiterated Catholic opposition to assisted dying initiatives, arguing that welcoming sick pilgrims at Lourdes stands opposed to "current trends that seek to redefine the value of human life."
- Urging French Catholics to "reclaim their heritage of faith," Pope Leo emphasized that the Church's voice is needed to promote renewal and hope in society amid polarization and declining fraternity.
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During a private meeting in France, Pope Leo thanked victims of sexual abuse for their "painful testimony."
At Lourdes healing shrine, Pope Leo addresses ‘wounds’ of clerical abuse
LOURDES, France (RNS) — With clerical abuse scandals and the Vatican trial of the Rev. Marko Rupnik looming over the pope's visit to France, Leo encouraged the church to 'have the courage' to recognize its failures, while calling on bishops to remain vigilant.
"Repentance, penance, penance: In Lourdes, the Pope turns to his church. Associations of abuse victims demand that compensation be discussed.
Leo XIV visited the shrine of Lourdes in France, where he dedicated his message to the sick, the elderly and the most vulnerable.
Pope Leo XIV has called on the Catholic Church in France to accept responsibility for its failures and continue the fight against sexual abuse, during his visit to Lourdes. Celebrating an open-air mass at the Lourdes sanctuary on Sunday, where some 150,000 faithful gathered, the Pope focused on the need for the Church to confront the wounds caused by abuse and not to avoid responsibility for actions committed within it. "The Church must have the…
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