By Philip Phi
Posted Aug 13, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on a four-day visit to France next month, during which he will meet with survivors of clergy abuse. This significant engagement underscores the Vatican’s commitment to addressing the long-standing issue of abuse within the church. The pontiff’s itinerary includes a visit to UNESCO headquarters, a meeting with French bishops in Lourdes, and an interreligious gathering in Metz. A Vatican statement highlighted the importance of the meeting with abuse survivors, noting their active involvement in its preparations. The specific timing and location for this encounter remain undisclosed.
This meeting follows a similar gathering Pope Leo held with six abuse survivors during his recent trip to Spain, a country where the Catholic hierarchy is only now confronting its legacy of abuse and cover-up. The pope’s visit to France will begin on September 25 in Paris, where he will meet President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace. He will address authorities, civil society representatives, and the diplomatic corps before delivering a speech at UNESCO’s headquarters. The day will conclude with vespers at Notre-Dame Cathedral and a prayer vigil with young people at the national stadium.
On the second day, Pope Leo will focus on social inclusion, active participation, and engaging new converts. He will visit the Maison Bakhita center, dedicated to social support and integration, and meet with a synodal assembly that involves laypeople in church matters, as well as recently baptized Catholics. Later, he will travel to Lourdes, a key Catholic pilgrimage site, to pray at the Grotto of the Apparitions and meet with staff and sick individuals at the Accueil Notre-Dame. His visit to Lourdes will culminate in the traditional Rosary and torchlight procession.
In France, a 2021 report estimated that 330,000 children had been sexually abused over 70 years by church personnel. Pope Leo signaled his commitment to addressing clergy sexual abuse by appointing French Bishop Thibault Verny to lead the Vatican’s child protection advisory commission. This visit marks Pope Leo’s fourth international journey this year, following a day trip to Monaco, visits to four African nations, and a tour of Spain and the Canary Islands. The Vatican has also confirmed his inaugural trip to Latin America as pontiff in November, with stops planned for Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, where he served for over three decades.
In keeping with the biblical call to “seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8), Pope Leo’s visit to France aims to address past wrongs and foster healing and reconciliation. The meeting with abuse survivors is a crucial step in this journey, reflecting a commitment to justice and accountability. As Proverbs 31:8-9 reminds us, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” This visit underscores the church’s ongoing responsibility to care for the vulnerable and uphold the dignity of every individual.
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Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
