French Abuse Survivors Meet Pope Leo XIV, Urge Action on Systemic Church Failures in Lourdes Meeting

In a poignant encounter at Lourdes, French survivors of clergy sexual abuse met with Pope Leo XIV, who expressed profound empathy and acknowledged the institutional failures that have allowed such crises to persist within the Church. The survivors, including Véronique Garnier, Olivier Mardi, Jérôme Guillement, Bertrand Virieux, and Jean-Marie Delbos, shared their experiences and expectations during a press conference following the meeting on September 27. The Vatican reported that the pope met with the survivors individually and as a group, expressing solidarity with them and all who have suffered from abuse.

Jean-Marie Delbos, who was abused at the Notre-Dame de Bétharram boarding school, recounted the emotional moment when Pope Leo embraced him, saying, “When he saw what state I was in, he took me in both arms.” This gesture was particularly moving for Delbos, who had left the Catholic Church decades earlier.

Jérôme Guillement, who now leads a survivors’ panel working with French Catholic schools, emphasized the need for prevention rooted in cultural change rather than procedural training. He noted that Pope Leo has a clear understanding of the systemic nature of the issue, acknowledging that while abusers are individuals, the systemic structure within the institution has historically allowed abuse to continue. Guillement highlighted the pope’s repeated emphasis on the pervasive nature of these systemic issues, despite significant efforts already made in France.

When asked if the pope formally acknowledged the systemic nature of abuse, Guillement affirmed, “Absolutely.” He recalled the pope stressing that abusers are distinct individuals, but their ability to offend over time is linked to systemic issues within the institution. This acknowledgment underscores the ongoing need for profound institutional change, aligning with the biblical call for justice and care for the vulnerable, as seen in Micah 6:8, which emphasizes justice, mercy, and humility.

Source: Read the original report