Pope Leo XIV Calls Sexual Abuse a ‘Scourge’ During Lourdes Pilgrimage

During the third day of his four-day apostolic journey to France, Pope Leo XIV addressed a gathering of approximately 150,000 faithful at the renowned Catholic shrine of Lourdes. The pontiff used the occasion to condemn the “painful scourge” of sexual abuse committed against minors within the Church, while also offering praise to French bishops for their “courageous” responses to the crisis.

Prior to a scheduled meeting with seven adult survivors later that Sunday, Pope Leo acknowledged the efforts of church leadership in seeking truth, justice, and forgiveness. He commended their commitment to establishing a culture of prevention and protection against such crimes, though he stressed the need for continued vigilance.

“The admission of our mistakes is indispensable for our spiritual growth,” the Pope told the crowd. “In order to heal the deep wounds, infidelities and painful errors that have occurred within (the Church), we must humbly place ourselves under the Lord’s purifying gaze.”

The visit takes place against the backdrop of a staggering 2021 report indicating that roughly 330,000 children were abused by Catholic priests and lay leaders in France between 1950 and 2020. While the Pope did not explicitly cite these figures during his mass, his messages emphasized the sanctity of life and respect for the vulnerable.

“Your crutches, your wheelchairs and your hidden tears are not obstacles; instead, they are the very place where you are fully respected and welcomed,” Leo said. He described Lourdes as a sanctuary dedicated to professing the beauty of life, which is viewed as a precious gift from God. This rhetoric was widely interpreted as a subtle criticism of euthanasia and abortion policies.

Reactions from survivor advocates remained cautious. Michele Le Reun-Gaigne, co-leader of a French survivors’ association, told Reuters that progress was slow. “It isn’t going to happen overnight,” she stated, expressing skepticism that the Papal visit would immediately transform institutional practices.

This event follows a massive celebration in Paris on Saturday, where Pope Leo presided over a mass attended by an estimated 800,000 believers at the Place de la Concorde.