Pope Leo XIV to meet abuse survivors during September visit to France
Pope Leo XIV will travel to France from 25 to 28 September for his fifth apostolic journey. The itinerary includes a welcome ceremony at the Élysée Palace with President Emmanuel Macron, a speech at UNESCO headquarters, vespers at Notre‑Dame Cathedral, a youth vigil at the Stade de France, a mass on the Place de la Concorde, a pilgrimage to Lourdes and an inter‑religious gathering in Metz.
The Vatican announced that the pontiff will hold a private meeting with survivors of clergy sexual abuse. The victims will help prepare the encounter, but the exact time and place have not yet been disclosed. A 2021 French commission report estimated that 330,000 children were abused by church personnel over 70 years. Earlier this year Pope Leo XIV appointed French Bishop Thibault Verny to head the Vatican’s child‑protection advisory commission. A similar private meeting with six survivors was held during his recent visit to Spain.
Entities: Emmanuel Macron · Lourdes · Lourdes Grotto · Notre-Dame Cathedral · Notre‑Dame Cathedral · Pope Leo XIV · Pope León XIV · Thibault Verny · UNESCO
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 9 SOURCES] The itinerary includes meetings at the Élysée Palace with President Emmanuel Macron, a speech at UNESCO, vespers at Notre‑Dame Cathedral, a youth vigil at the Stade de France, a mass at Place de la C (all articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The survivors will help prepare the meeting, but the exact time and location have not been disclosed. (all articles)
- [● 11 SOURCES] Pope Leo XIV will visit France from September 25 to September 28. (all articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] A 2021 French commission report estimated that 330,000 children were victims of sexual abuse by church personnel in France. (all articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] During the visit Pope Leo XIV will meet privately with survivors of clergy sexual abuse. (all articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Vatican announced the program for the France visit on a Friday. (all articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Pope Leo XIV previously met six abuse survivors during his recent visit to Spain. (all articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Pope Leo XIV appointed French Bishop Thibault Verny to lead the Vatican’s child‑protection advisory commission. (all articles)