LOURDES, France — Pope Leo reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the abuse of children by Catholic clergy during a meeting Sunday with seven survivors of clergy abuse. The private two-hour session took place in Lourdes, where the pontiff is visiting as part of a three-city tour in France.

According to a Vatican statement, the pope listened to the survivors’ personal accounts and proposals for enhancing the Church’s safeguarding measures. He expressed gratitude for their testimonies and pledged to ensure such harm is not repeated. The survivors described the encounter as emotional and said they felt genuinely heard by Pope Leo, who demonstrated familiarity with their individual cases. At the same time, they expressed the hope that the pope’s words would lead to concrete action.

Survivor Jerome Guillemet noted that the pope acknowledged the progress the Church has made in France but emphasized that significant work remains. Local Church officials are looking to the visit to help restore confidence in the institution after a 2021 report revealed that an estimated 330,000 children had been abused by clergy and lay leaders in France over a span of seven decades.

Earlier on Sunday, Pope Leo addressed a crowd of approximately 150,000 gathered for Mass near the Marian shrine in Lourdes, a major pilgrimage destination located in the foothills of the Pyrenees. In his homily, the pope called for the Church to confront its past failings courageously and to seek spiritual purification as part of the healing process. Although he spoke of “deep wounds” and “painful errors” within the Church, he did not issue a direct apology for the abuse during the Mass.

One survivor, Veronique Garnier, described the Mass as troubling and questioned her presence there but found encouragement in the personal meeting with the pope. She emphasized the need for meaningful listening and action beyond rhetoric.

The pilgrimage site itself remains linked to controversy, as the facade of the Lourdes shrine features mosaics by Rev. Marko Rupnik, a Vatican-affiliated religious artist recently accused of sexual abuse by more than 20 women. Five alleged victims issued an open letter to the pope earlier this week criticizing the ongoing Vatican trial of Rupnik. In anticipation of Pope Leo’s visit, the mosaics were covered by large tarps.

The pope’s procession to the Mass included a drive by the covered shrine facade. The Lourdes visit marks a significant moment in Pope Leo’s efforts to address abuse within the Church and reassure the faithful in France.