{
  "id": 262818,
  "title": "Pope Leo to meet with clergy abuse survivors during upcoming trip to France",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/pope-leo-to-meet-with-clergy-abuse-survivors-during-upcoming-trip-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-07T11:53:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/pope-visit-france-clergy-abuse-a633186bd81f411119cf2060c7c40a65"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Pope Leo XIV is set to meet with clergy abuse survivors during his upcoming four-day trip to France, which will include visits to UNESCO headquarters, meetings with French bishops in Lourdes, and an interreligious meeting in Metz. The Vatican announced this on Friday, highlighting the meeting with several abuse survivors and noting their involvement in preparations for the meeting. The timing and location of the survivor meetings will be disclosed at a later date. Pope Leo XIV has previously met with abuse survivors during his recent trip to Spain, where the Catholic hierarchy has only recently begun addressing its legacy of abuse and cover-up. France has estimated that 330,000 children were sexually abused over 70 years by church personnel. The pontiff recently appointed French Bishop Thibault Verny to head the Vatican’s child protection advisory commission, demonstrating his commitment to fighting clergy sexual abuse.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/262818.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Pope Leo to meet clergy abuse victims during upcoming France visit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/pope-leo-to-meet-clergy-abuse-victims-during-upcoming-france-visit",
        "published": "2026-08-07T12:50:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Pope Leo XIV to meet with clerical abuse victims during France trip",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/pope-leo-xiv-to-meet-with-clerical-abuse-victims-during-france-trip",
        "published": "2026-08-07T14:54:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}