Pope Leo pledges action on clergy abuse after meeting French survivors

Pope Leo arrives to meets staff and members of the sick community at Accueil Notre-Dame at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, during his apostolic journey to France, in Lourdes, France, on Sunday. | REUTERS

Reuters

Sep 28, 2026

LOURDES, France – Pope Leo reaffirmed his commitment to ending abuse of children by Catholic priests in a meeting with French abuse survivors on Sunday, the Vatican said, hours after the pontiff urged the Church to admit its own failings and heal its “deep wounds.”

In a two-hour meeting with seven survivors in France, where Leo is on a three-city weekend visit, the pope met privately with each of the victims and heard proposals for how to improve the Church’s safeguarding measures, a Vatican statement said.

“He thanked them for their painful testimony and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the harm they experienced is not repeated for others,” it said.

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