• Pope Leo XIV meets with seven victims of clerical sex abuse during his visit to France.
• The pontiff reaffirms his commitment to reforming the Church to prevent future abuses.
• Pope urges Church leaders to acknowledge past failings and work towards healing.
• Survivors express mixed feelings, calling for genuine actions alongside the pope's promises.
• 330,000 minors were reportedly abused by clergy in France over the past 70 years, per a 2021 inquiry.

Pope Leo XIV, during his recent visit to France, met with seven survivors of clerical sex abuse in Lourdes, where he expressed gratitude for their “painful testimony” and reaffirmed his commitment to ending harm by Catholic priests. This significant meeting is part of his four-day trip to the country, which aims to address the systemic issues related to sexual abuse within the Church. The survivors described the encounter as emotional and impactful, with one survivor recalling, “When he saw the state I was in, he took me into his arms,” which highlighted the enormity of their experiences according to Le Monde and Al Jazeera.

The pontiff’s visit comes amid a backdrop of troubling revelations; a 2021 inquiry reported that about 330,000 minors had been abused by clergy and lay members of the Church over a span of 70 years in France. During an outdoor Mass attended by approximately 150,000 people, Pope Leo emphasized the need for the Church to confront its past and engage in healing. He urged, “The Church must have the courage to face its past,” indicating a stark acknowledgment of the issues at hand according to Reuters and Reuters.

Furthermore, the survivors communicated their concerns, expressing a desire for the pontiff's words to be followed by concrete actions. Jérôme Guillement, a survivor, noted that the pope acknowledged the “systemic” nature of the abuse, highlighting the need for institutional reforms. He stated, "He certainly believes that the Church has done a great deal in France, but he also believes that the Church in France still has a tremendous amount left to do," which emphasizes ongoing challenges ahead according to SCMP and Le Monde.

In addition to addressing the abuse scandal, the Pope further discussed the Church's ethical position on issues like assisted dying, reinforcing the Catholic Church's pro-life stance during meetings with pilgrims and clergy. He stated, "What is legal is not necessarily moral,” urging the Church to uphold its humanitarian mission without resorting to any form of death, aligning with his broader messages about the sanctity of life according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.