Full Breakdown
Pope Leo XIV’s France Visit Centers on Meeting Clergy-Abuse Survivors
8/7/2026, 11:24:29 PM
Core Event
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will begin a four-day state visit to France on September 25, scheduled to run through the end of the visit. The itinerary includes a meeting with survivors of clergy sexual abuse, a first-time engagement of this kind on French soil. The pontiff will also meet President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, address civil society and diplomatic representatives at UNESCO, and hold liturgical events in Paris, Lourdes and Metz.
Background on Clergy Abuse in France
A 2021 French government report estimated that 330,000 children were sexually abused by church personnel over a 70-year period. In response, the Vatican recently appointed French Bishop Thibault Verny to lead its child-protection advisory commission. Earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV met six abuse survivors during a trip to Spain, signaling a continued emphasis on survivor involvement in papal diplomacy.
Itinerary and Key Engagements
- Paris (Sept. 25): Reception with President Macron, speech at UNESCO, vespers at Notre-Dame, and a youth prayer vigil at the national stadium.
- Lourdes: Prayer at the Grotto of the Apparitions, meetings with staff and patients of the Accueil Notre-Dame, followed by the traditional Rosary and torch-light procession.
- Metz: Participation in an interreligious conference at the Robert Schuman Center, honoring the Catholic statesman declared “venerable” in 2021.
The visit also includes a stop at the Maison Bakhita center for social integration and a meeting with a synodal assembly that promotes lay participation in church affairs.
Official Vatican Statements
A separate Vatican statement reiterated the appointment of Bishop Verny as a concrete step toward stronger child-protection measures.
Significance
By foregrounding survivor dialogue during a high-profile European state visit, Pope Leo XIV is marking a shift from the approach of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who limited his French engagements to smaller cities and avoided a full state visit to Paris. Observers note that the itinerary’s emphasis on inclusion, interreligious dialogue, and social outreach reflects the pontiff’s broader agenda of rebuilding trust with the European faithful while addressing the lingering legacy of clerical abuse.
