Pope’s Lourdes visit to highlight Church’s response to abuse

Pope Leo XIV will meet privately with sexual abuse victims and address French bishops during his visit to Lourdes on September 27. The meeting occurs during his pastoral visit to France, scheduled for September 25 to 28, under the motto “That the World May Have Life.”

The visit comes as the Church in France continues to manage the aftermath of a 2021 report by the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (CIASE). That commission estimated that hundreds of thousands of children were likely abused over a 70-year period. According to a survey conducted in France before the trip, 15% of respondents identified the prevention of and fight against clerical abuse as a primary topic they wanted the pope to address, making it the second most requested subject after global peace and conflict.

The Lourdes shrine has also faced recent controversy regarding the display of artwork by a priest accused of sexual and spiritual abuse. During the trip, the pope will also meet with ailing pilgrims to promote his message of respect for human life.