Pope Leo XIV, the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, arrived in Lourdes, a French pilgrimage town, on Sunday, to meet victims of clerical sex abuse. This is part of his four-day trip to France, a secular country with deep Catholic roots, marking the first official papal visit in nearly two decades. The Pope is expected to meet privately with seven victims after promising to further efforts to reform the Church in the wake of the global sexual abuse scandal.
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. One of the victims who will meet the Pope is a former pupil of the Notre-Dame de Betharram institution, a nearby boarding school at the centre of widespread accusations of physical and sexual abuse over several decades. The Pope's meeting with the victims is seen as a crucial step towards acknowledging the abuse and taking measures to prevent it.
Before arriving in Lourdes, the Pope led an open-air mass on a Paris square and adjoining high-end shopping avenue on Saturday. An estimated 800,000 people lined the Champs Elysees avenue and nearby streets to listen, according to Vatican figures. The Pope prayed to the Virgin Mary to "obtain for France wise and generous leaders… eager to serve the common good". He also prayed for them to make France's "voice heard in promoting the defence of fundamental human rights and peace in the world, rejecting the mentality of war once and for all".
The Pope's visit to Lourdes is significant, as it is one of the most important Catholic holy sites in the world, receiving some three million pilgrims each year. Believers credit it with miraculous healings. The Pope's meeting with the victims of clerical sex abuse is seen as a step towards healing and reconciliation. Domitille Bardoul, 26, a pilgrim from Paris, expressed her support for the Pope's meeting with the victims, saying it's essential to acknowledge that every possible measure is being taken to prevent abuse.
The Pope's trip to France comes seven months before voters choose a successor to centrist President Emmanuel Macron. A number of presidential hopefuls were present at the mass, including far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Edouard Philippe. Macron did not attend the mass but was represented by his wife Brigitte. The President said in a message that France was "proud to welcome Pope Leo XIV and this monumental mass in the heart of Paris".
Pope Leo XIV is the first US pontiff to visit France. He was born in the United States and has taken a strong stance on issues such as immigration and human rights. During his visit, he has emphasized the importance of promoting peace, understanding, and respect for human rights. Aline Riziki, 41, a pilgrim from the Democratic Republic of Congo, said she came to see the Pope to pray for peace in the east of her homeland, which has been racked by conflict for decades.
The Pope's visit to France has been seen as a significant event, with many pilgrims and leaders attending the mass. The Pope's meeting with the victims of clerical sex abuse is a crucial step towards addressing the issue and promoting healing and reconciliation. The visit has also highlighted the importance of promoting human rights, peace, and understanding.
Key points
- The Pope will meet privately with seven victims of clerical sex abuse during his trip to France.
- 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's visit to France comes seven months before voters choose a successor to centrist President Emmanuel Macron.
