Pope Leo is set to meet with victims of clerical abuse during his upcoming visit to France, in a move aimed at acknowledging the pain of survivors and reaffirming the Church’s commitment to accountability.
The meeting is expected to take place as part of the Pope’s broader itinerary in France, where he will also hold engagements with Catholic leaders, government officials, and local communities. Vatican officials said the private encounter with survivors is intended to listen directly to their experiences and to offer a message of solidarity, healing, and responsibility.
Clerical abuse has been a defining issue for the Catholic Church in France following multiple independent reports that documented decades of abuse and institutional failures. Advocacy groups have long called for direct engagement between Church leadership and those affected, arguing that personal meetings are essential to rebuilding trust.
During the visit, Pope Leo is also expected to address the need for transparency, safeguarding reforms, and stronger support for victims within dioceses across the country. Church representatives have stated that the meeting will be conducted with care for the privacy and wellbeing of those attending.
For many in France, the Pope’s decision to include survivors in his schedule signals a continued focus on addressing the legacy of abuse, while also highlighting the Church’s efforts to implement prevention measures going forward.
