Pope pledges action after meeting abuse survivors
Pope Leo met seven survivors of clergy child sexual abuse for two hours in Lourdes, France, in what one report described as an emotional encounter. Before the meeting, he urged the Catholic Church to heal deep wounds and painful errors. The visit formed part of the pope's four-day trip to France.
Why it matters
The meeting places accountability for clerical abuse near the centre of Leo's first official French visit.
Sources
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Part of the September 28, 2026 brief.