'Scourge' of abuse must be rooted out, says Pope, during Lourdes visit

Pope Leo urged French bishops to eradicate the “scourge” of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, insisting they maintain the highest level of vigilance ahead of a private meeting with survivors. Speaking at the Sanctuary of Our Holy Lady of Lourdes during the fourth day of his four‑day visit to France, the pontiff cited a 2021 inquiry that found clergy or lay members of the Church had abused roughly 330,000 minors over approximately 70 years in the country. Before celebrating Mass for thousands of worshippers, Pope Leo told the bishops: “You person faced with determination the achy scourge of maltreatment of minors committed by members of the clergy oregon wrong an ecclesial context.” He added, “It is important to persevere on the way you person begun, maintaining the top vigilance.” The gathering of senior clergy, held behind closed doors, was later released to reporters. The Lourdes event came a day after an estimated 700,000 people filled Paris’s Place de la Concorde to hear the pontiff address the crowd. Cheering spectators waved as he rode the Champs‑Élysées Avenue in his open‑topped popemobile. On Friday, Pope Leo also met with French President Emmanuel Macron.