Pope Leo XIV Commits to Church Reform After Meeting French Abuse Survivors

Head of the Roman Catholic Church holds ’emotional’ two-hour meeting with seven abuse victims in French town of Lourdes.

27 Sep 2026

Pope Leo XIV expressed gratitude to a group of clerical abuse survivors for their “painful testimony” and reaffirmed his commitment to addressing harm caused by Catholic clergy during a private meeting in Lourdes, France. The pontiff, leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, emphasized ongoing efforts to reform the Church following decades of sexual abuse scandals.

During his four-day visit to France, the Pope met privately with seven adult survivors of childhood abuse, many of whom detailed systemic failures within church institutions. The survivors later described the encounter as deeply moving, with one participant noting, “When he saw the state I was in, he took me into his arms—it was an extraordinary moment.”

Survivors highlighted the Pope’s engagement with their personal stories and perceived his understanding of institutional challenges. However, they stressed that words alone must be followed by concrete actions. One survivor stated, “Hope exists only if there is true listening at a deep level, not superficial gestures.”

Local officials expressed optimism that the Pope’s visit would help restore trust in the Church following a 2021 investigation uncovering abuse linked to over 330,000 French children. During a preceding Mass attended by 150,000 people at the Lourdes sanctuary, Leo acknowledged the Church’s past failures without offering a direct apology, prompting mixed reactions from survivors.

The Pope also addressed these issues in private discussions with French bishops, with plans to continue his tour to Metz on Monday before returning to Rome.

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