Hundreds of thousands of people have gathered to hear Pope Leo speak during a four-day visit to France. The Pope has called on French bishops to root out the "scourge" of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church, urging them to "maintain the greatest vigilance" ahead of a meeting with abuse survivors.

Pope's Message to Bishops

The Pope delivered this message during a private meeting at the Sanctuary of Our Holy Lady of Lourdes, a significant holy site in southern France, on the third day of his official visit. A 2021 inquiry revealed that clergy or lay members of the Church had abused approximately 330,000 people as children in France over the past 70 years.

During the Mass attended by thousands of worshippers in Lourdes, the Pope emphasized the importance of addressing the issue of abuse. He stated:

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"You have faced with determination the painful scourge of abuse of minors committed by members of the clergy or within an ecclesial context. It is important to persevere along the path you have begun, maintaining the greatest vigilance."

The gathering of senior church leaders was held behind closed doors, and the remarks were later shared with reporters.