Pope Léon XIV meets sexual abuse victims in Lourdes

During his visit to Lourdes, Pope Léon XIV met with seven victims of sexual abuse in the Church during private discussions. This meeting lasted nearly two hours and began with individual conversations, followed by a collective dialogue. The victims expressed their satisfaction with the listening and acknowledgment of their testimonies by the pontiff.

The Pope recognized the systemic nature of sexual abuse while meeting with the survivors, according to reports. Although he had been relatively silent on this subject until that moment, he called on the Church to continue its efforts for truth, justice, and reparations while speaking with French bishops.

During this visit, Pope Léon XIV also denounced sexual abuse within the Church, calling it a "painful scourge." This address took place before a mass attended by approximately 150,000 faithful, highlighting the significance of his visit during the pilgrimage to Lourdes.

While some groups criticized the format chosen for this meeting, witnesses emphasized that they felt heard and that the Pope became aware of the scale of the situation. These discussions followed a report estimating that there have been 330,000 minor victims since 1950.

The victims present at the meeting highlighted the importance of this moment, as the Pope acknowledged the Church's failures and expressed a commitment to prevent future abuses. However, they now demand concrete actions to accompany the Pope's verbal commitments and promises.

This meeting is part of a four-day visit by Pope Léon XIV to France aimed at addressing the challenging issues facing the Church and establishing dialogue with those who have suffered abuse within it. Despite the progress, concerns remain regarding the Church's ongoing commitment to this problem.