French abuse survivors deeply moved as Pope Leo acknowledges Church's failures

Pope Leo XIV met with seven survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Lourdes on September 27 to acknowledge the institutional failures that allowed the crisis to persist. During the meeting, which included both individual and group sessions, the pope expressed closeness to the victims and their ongoing suffering, according to the Vatican.

Five survivors, Véronique Garnier, Olivier Mardi, Jérôme Guillement, Bertrand Virieux, and Jean-Marie Delbos, spoke at a press conference following the audience. Delbos, 80, who was abused as a child at the Notre-Dame de Bétharram boarding school, said the pope embraced him during their encounter.

Guillement, who leads a survivors' panel for French Catholic schools, stated that the pope has a clear view of the systemic issues involved. He urged the pope to prioritize a culture change to prevent future abuse rather than relying on training modules or procedures. Two other participants in the meeting chose to remain anonymous.