Pope Leo XIV Meets with Abuse Survivors in Lourdes, Aims to Prevent Future Abuse

Pope Leo XIV held a private meeting with seven survivors of sexual abuse in Lourdes, France, as confirmed by the Vatican on September 27. The meeting took place on the eve of the Pope’s final day in France. The survivors, comprising four men and three women, were accompanied by Bishop Gérard Le Stang of Amiens, who serves as the president of the Council for the Prevention and Fight Against Pedophilia of the French bishops’ conference.

During the meeting, the Pope listened to the survivors’ stories, acknowledging their pain and suffering, which was sometimes exacerbated by the complicity or silence of those who could have intervened. The Pope took time to meet with each survivor individually and privately, and with some, he paused for a few moments in prayer. Following individual meetings, he gathered with all the survivors to express his gratitude for their testimonies and reiterated his commitment to ensuring that such abuse does not recur.

Pope Leo expressed his solidarity with the survivors and, through them, with all those who have suffered similar wounds. He concluded the meeting with a blessing and requested that the survivors pray for him. He expressed his hope of collaborating to ensure that the community of the faithful becomes a place of comfort and healing for individuals of all ages.

Five of the survivors were scheduled to speak at an invitation-only press conference in Lourdes after the meeting, while two chose to remain anonymous. Antonia Sobocki, a survivor of abuse outside the Church and founder of LOUDfence, an advocacy initiative, described the papal meeting as a “wonderful” sign. She expressed hope that this encounter would catalyze a journey of healing and peace for those injured by abuse. Sobocki emphasized that while nothing can fully compensate for the harm caused by abuse, the efforts to support survivors are meaningful and significant. This aligns with the biblical call to seek justice and care for the vulnerable, as reflected in Micah 6:8.

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