Pope pledges action on clergy child abuse after meeting French survivors
The head of the Roman Catholic Church met seven survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the French town of Lourdes and pledged further action on the issue. The two-hour meeting was described as emotional.
The Pope held a meeting with seven survivors of child sexual abuse committed by clergy members. The gathering took place in Lourdes, France, one of the world's most significant Catholic pilgrimage sites.
The conversation lasted about two hours and was described as emotional. During the meeting, the Pope pledged to take further action to address the issue of child sexual abuse carried out by members of the clergy.
Background
Cases of clergy sexual abuse against children have posed serious challenges for the Roman Catholic Church for decades across multiple countries, including France. The meeting with survivors is seen as an effort by the Church to continue dialogue with victims and demonstrate willingness to confront the issue.
No further details were publicly provided regarding the specific measures pledged or their timeline for implementation.
