Pope Francis Urges French Bishops to Eradicate Clerical Abuse
Pontiff calls for 'greatest vigilance' against abuse within the church during visit to Lourdes.
Pope Francis has implored French bishops to resolutely confront and eradicate the "scourge" of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church, urging them to maintain "the greatest vigilance." The Pope delivered this message during a private meeting with bishops at the Sanctuary of Our Holy Lady of Lourdes on the third day of his official four-day visit to France.
His remarks come ahead of a scheduled private meeting with survivors of abuse. A significant 2021 inquiry revealed that approximately 330,000 children in France were subjected to abuse by clergy or lay members of the Church over a period of 70 years.
Speaking to the bishops before celebrating Mass for thousands of worshippers in Lourdes, Pope Francis stated, "You have faced with determination the painful scourge of abuse of minors committed by members of the clergy or within an ecclesial context." He emphasized the importance of "persevering along the path you have begun, maintaining the greatest vigilance."
The closed-door gathering with senior church leaders was followed by the release of the Pope's remarks to the press. This visit to Lourdes occurred the day after an estimated 700,000 people gathered in Paris to hear the pontiff speak. Earlier in the week, the Pope also held a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron.