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'Scourge' of abuse must be rooted out, says Pope, during Lourdes visit
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- Pope Leo urged French bishops to vigorously combat sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance during a private meeting at Lourdes amid his official visit to France.
- A 2021 inquiry revealed that approximately 330,000 people were abused as children by clergy or church members in France over the past 70 years, highlighting the scale of the crisis the Pope addressed.
- During his visit, the Pope celebrated Mass before thousands, met abuse survivors privately, and engaged with large crowds in Paris, including a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron.
- The Pope encouraged Catholics, especially young people, to actively live and share their faith, noting a decline in regular worshippers and priests in France but acknowledging recent growth in adult baptisms.
- This visit marks Pope Leo's first official trip to France since becoming the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in May 2025, with planned events including meetings at Lourdes and a torchlight procession.
