Pope Francis to meet abuse victims during French visit

Pope Francis is scheduled to meet with victims of clerical sexual abuse during his visit to France, a significant moment in the Church's reckoning with decades of misconduct by its clergy.

The meeting comes one day after the pontiff visited Lourdes, where he paid respects at the Grotto of Massabielle. According to Catholic tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared at the site in 1858, making it one of the most important pilgrimage destinations for Catholics worldwide.

The pope's engagement with abuse survivors reflects increasing pressure on the Vatican to demonstrate accountability and pastoral care for those harmed by members of the clergy. Such meetings have become an important symbolic element of Francis's papacy, which has emphasised the need for the Church to confront its historical failures in protecting children and vulnerable adults.

The French leg of the pontiff's journey highlights the Catholic Church's continued struggle with the sexual abuse crisis, which has affected dioceses across Europe, North America, and beyond. Church officials have acknowledged the need for greater transparency and reforms in how abuse cases are handled and investigated.