Pope Decries 'Scourge' of Sexual Abuse During France Visit

On the third day of his four-day visit to France, Pope Leo addressed a vast crowd of around 150,000 at the Lourdes shrine, a revered location for Catholics as a place of healing. Many victims of sexual abuse have journeyed to this site, near the Spanish border, seeking solace from their trauma. In his address, Leo emphasized respect for life, including the sick and frail, seemingly criticizing euthanasia and abortion.

At a subsequent meeting, the pope will converse with seven adult survivors of sexual abuse, a part of the Vatican's ongoing effort to address the widespread molestation of children by clergy members and the attempts to conceal the scandal globally. A 2021 report revealed that approximately 330,000 children in France were abused by Catholic priests and lay leaders between 1950 and 2020.

While not directly discussing the issue during his Mass, Pope Leo urged humility among clergy, stating that acknowledging our mistakes is crucial for spiritual growth. Healing deep wounds and infidelities necessitates humbly placing oneself under the Lord's purifying gaze. However, some survivors remain skeptical that Pope Leo's visit will prompt swift changes within the church, noting that progress is slow.

Earlier, the pope met with French bishops, commending their "courageous" response to the abuse scandal, praising them for seeking truth, justice, forgiveness, and making amends, and urging them to maintain vigilance in their efforts against such crimes.