'Scourge' of abuse must be rooted out, says Pope during Lourdes visit

Pope Leo has called on French bishops to root out the "scourge" of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic church, telling them to "maintain the greatest vigilance", ahead of a session with abuse survivors.

Key points

• A 2021 inquiry discovered that clergy or lay members of the Church had abused concerning 330, 000 individuals as children in France over 70 years.
• The Lourdes gathering came a day after an estimated 700, 000 individuals flocked to the Place de la Concorde in Paris to hear the pontiff speak.
• It is the Pope's first official visit to France since being chosen to lead the Roman Catholic church in May 2025.
• The Pope remarked Mass in front of thousands of worshippers in Lourdes, before he was scheduled to meet survivors of abuse privately afterwards.
• Massive crowds cheered and waved as he rode down the Champs-Élysées Avenue greeting followers from his open-topped popemobile.

Meanwhile, the Pope delivered the message to bishops during a private session at the Sanctuary of Our Holy Lady of Lourdes, a holy site in southern France, on the third day of his four-day official visit to France.

For context, a 2021 inquiry discovered that clergy or lay members of the Church had abused concerning 330, 000 individuals as children in France over 70 years.

Notably, the Pope remarked Mass in front of thousands of worshippers in Lourdes, before he was scheduled to meet survivors of abuse privately afterwards.

Before giving Mass the Pope informed the bishops: 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."

Notably, the gathering of senior church leaders was held behind closed doors and the remarks were afterwards issued to reporters.

Notably, the Lourdes gathering came a day after an estimated 700, 000 individuals flocked to the Place de la Concorde in Paris to hear the pontiff speak.

Massive crowds cheered and waved as he rode down the Champs-Élysées Avenue greeting followers from his open-topped popemobile. On Friday, the Pope additionally met French President Emmanuel Macron.

During Saturday's Mass in Paris, the Pope informed worshippers that Catholics should not keep their faith to themselves but "let it overflow so that those you meet may be refreshed".

For context, the leader of the Catholic Church additionally addressed young residents in his speech, describing them as "today's Church".

"How beautiful it is to see your enthusiasm, energy and commitment, and the joy you bring to Christian communities, " he remarked.

While the number of priests has shrunk by two-thirds from 25, 000 in 1990 to fewer than 9, 000, the number of regular worshippers in France has fallen from 35% of the population in 1960 to less than 5% today.

But over recent years there have been signs of a growing interest in religious tradition, with the number of adult baptisms more than doubling in five years to hit 10, 000 in 2025.

Afterwards on Sunday the Pope will meet staff and residents at the health facility at Lourdes, before taking part in a torchlight procession in the evening.

Pope's have regularly visited France, a country with an avowedly secular modern political history but deep Catholic roots.

Taken together, the developments around ' Scourge' of abuse must be rooted out, says Pope during Lourdes visit point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.