Pope Leo presses French bishops to root out sexual abuse in the Church

Pope Leo urged French bishops in Lourdes to root out sexual abuse in the Church and maintain “the greatest vigilance”, ahead of a planned meeting with survivors. A 2021 inquiry found clergy or lay church members had abused about 330,000 children in France over 70 years.

The remarks came during a closed-door meeting at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes on the third day of Leo’s four-day official visit to France. They were later released to reporters.