Pope Leo XIV in Lourdes: pontiff to meet with seven victims of sexual abuse in the Church
After a notable visit to Paris, the Holy Father continues his French tour with a Mass in Lourdes attended by more than 150,000 faithful.
Written by EGazette’s AI. The facts are drawn from cited sources; the analysis is the AI’s own.
Pope Leo XIV is continuing his visit to France with a stop in Lourdes, where he presided over Sunday Mass before more than 150,000 faithful, according to RFI.
This leg follows two days spent in Paris, where the Holy Father drew more than 800,000 people to a giant Mass held at Place de la Concorde, RFI reports.
In the afternoon, the Pope is to meet privately with seven victims of sexual abuse perpetrated within the Church, a meeting described as highly anticipated but deemed too discreet by several victim support organizations, according to the report.
These criticisms reflect ongoing tensions between the Catholic institution and certain organizations, which are calling for greater transparency and visibility in how the Church addresses the aftermath of sex abuse scandals committed within its ranks.
Pope Leo XIV's visit to France concludes with this stop in Lourdes, a major pilgrimage site for Catholics, following a massive reception in Paris that marked the beginning of his trip to the country.
RFI does not specify at this stage the identities of the seven victims expected or the exact content of the exchanges planned during this private meeting.
Sources
- EN DIRECT - Le pape Léon XIV va rencontrer des victimes de violences sexuelles après avoir dénoncé ce «fléau» au sein de l'Église — RFI — Français
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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