Pope Leo XIV is set to meet with seven victims of clerical sex abuse on Sunday, during his four-day trip to France. The meeting comes after a 2021 inquiry found that clergy or lay members of the Church had abused about 330,000 people as minors in France over 70 years. The Pope has promised to further efforts to reform the Church in the wake of the global sexual abuse scandal. This move is seen as a significant step towards addressing the issue.
The Pope's visit to France marks the first official papal visit in nearly two decades. During his trip, he led an open-air mass for hundreds of thousands of worshippers at Paris's Place de la Concorde. A giant white canopy was erected to serve as a makeshift altar for the mass. The event drew a large crowd, with around 800,000 people in attendance. The Pope's prayers were accompanied by choral and organ music as the sun broke through the grey skies.
On Saturday, the Pope visited the southwestern pilgrimage town of Lourdes, where he prayed at the Grotto of Massabielle. This site holds significant importance in Catholic tradition, as it is where the Virgin Mary appeared to a peasant girl, later canonized as Saint Bernadette, in 1858. The Pope touched the rock, lit a candle, and drank spring water, following the rituals observed by pilgrims to the cave.
The Pope also met with migrants at Maison Bakhita, an association supporting refugees, earlier on Saturday. During the meeting, he emphasized the importance of encountering one another and living together in dignity and peace. He also highlighted the fundamental role of women in building a civilization of love. The association noted that the Pope's visit sent a significant message ahead of the April-May presidential election in France.
The Pope's visit to Lourdes was his third to the site, following visits by Benedict XVI in 2008 and Jean-Paul II in 1983 and 2004. The sanctuary is one of the most important Catholic holy sites in the world, attracting around three million pilgrims annually. Catholics credit the site with miraculous healings, making it a significant destination for devotees.
The Pope's trip to France comes seven months before the country's presidential election. Several presidential hopefuls, including far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Edouard Philippe, were present at the mass. Although President Emmanuel Macron did not attend, he was represented by his wife Brigitte. Macron expressed his pride in welcoming the Pope and hosting the monumental mass in the heart of Paris.
On Sunday, the Pope will meet privately with victims of clerical sex abuse, including a former pupil of the Notre-Dame de Betharram institution. This boarding school in southwestern France has been at the center of widespread accusations of physical and sexual abuse over several decades. The meeting is seen as a crucial step towards addressing the issue and providing support to those affected.
Key points
- The Pope's meeting with victims of clerical sex abuse is a significant step towards addressing the issue and providing support to those affected.
- The Pope's visit to France marks the first official papal visit in nearly two decades, with a focus on promoting unity and peace.
- The 2021 inquiry found that clergy or lay members of the Church had abused about 330,000 people as minors in France over 70 years.
