Pope Leo to meet clergy abuse victims during upcoming France visit

Pope Leo XIV has announced plans to meet with survivors of clergy abuse during his upcoming four-day trip to France. The Vatican disclosed this information on Friday, alongside details about the remainder of the pontiff's itinerary, which includes visits to UNESCO headquarters, French bishops in Lourdes, and an interreligious meeting in Metz.

The Vatican also emphasized that the victims themselves will participate in preparations for the abuse survivor meetings. This announcement comes in the wake of Pope Leo's recent visit to Spain, where he met with six abuse survivors. France has been estimated to have 330,000 children who were sexually abused by church personnel over a period of 70 years.

The pontiff recently appointed French Bishop Thibault Verny to head the Vatican’s child protection advisory commission, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to combating clergy sexual abuse. The nine-day trip to France, confirmed in May, is the pontiff's fourth foreign trip of the year following visits to Monaco, four African nations, and Spain and the Canary Islands.

Leo is set to begin his France tour on September 25 in Paris, where he will meet with President Emmanuel Macron, address authorities, civil society, and diplomats at the Élysée Palace, and deliver a speech at UNESCO headquarters. The Pope will also celebrate vespers at Notre-Dame Cathedral and hold a prayer vigil with young people at the national stadium.