Pope Leo has called on French bishops to address the issue of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church during his visit to France. Speaking at the Sanctuary of Our Holy Lady of Lourdes, he urged bishops to maintain vigilance against the "scourge" of abuse. This meeting occurred on the third day of his four-day visit, which has seen hundreds of thousands gather to hear him speak.
A 2021 inquiry revealed that approximately 330,000 individuals were abused as children by clergy or lay members of the Church in France over the past 70 years. The Pope celebrated Mass in front of thousands in Lourdes and later met with seven survivors of abuse, expressing gratitude for their testimonies and reaffirming his commitment to preventing future harm.
Jean-Marie Delbos, a survivor, described the encounter as extraordinary, noting that he felt heard by the Pope. The Pope's visit included a large gathering in Paris, where an estimated 700,000 people attended his address at the Place de la Concorde. He also met with French President Emmanuel Macron during the visit.
In his Mass in Paris, the Pope encouraged Catholics to share their faith with others. He acknowledged the declining number of regular worshippers in France, which has dropped from 35% of the population in 1960 to under 5% today, and noted a significant decrease in the number of priests.
Despite these declines, there has been a noted increase in adult baptisms, which have more than doubled in five years, reaching 10,000 in 2025. The issue of sexual abuse within the Church has been a longstanding concern, gaining media attention since the 1980s and prompting investigations and reports worldwide.
Pope Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, had previously held a summit on the issue and made changes to Church laws regarding sexual abuse, but challenges remain. The Pope's visit marks his first official trip to France since assuming leadership of the Roman Catholic Church in May 2025, continuing a tradition of papal visits to a country with deep Catholic roots.