'Scourge' of abuse must be rooted out, says Pope, during Lourdes visit
Summary
Pope Leo called on French bishops to keep fighting sexual abuse within the Catholic Church during his visit to Lourdes, France. He urged them to stay alert and meet privately with abuse survivors. The Pope also celebrated Mass and spoke to large crowds about the importance of faith.Key Facts
- Pope Leo spoke to French bishops about the need to stop sexual abuse in the Church.
- A 2021 report showed about 330,000 children were abused by Church members in France over 70 years.
- The Pope celebrated Mass at Lourdes and met privately with abuse survivors.
- Around 700,000 people gathered to hear the Pope speak in Paris.
- The number of regular churchgoers in France dropped from 35% in 1960 to under 5% today.
- The number of priests in France has fallen from 25,000 in 1990 to less than 9,000 now.
- Adult baptisms in France have more than doubled recently, reaching 10,000 in 2025.
- The Pope’s visit is his first official trip to France since becoming leader of the Catholic Church in May 2025.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
