VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV will meet victims of clerical sexual abuse during an official visit to France in September, the Vatican said Friday as it released the itinerary for the trip.
The Holy See did not immediately provide further details about the private meeting, which comes as the pontiff promised to further efforts to reform the Catholic Church in the wake of the global sexual abuse scandal.
“During his upcoming Apostolic Journey to France, Pope Leo XIV will meet privately with individuals who have been victims of abuse within the Church,” the Vatican said.
“The victims themselves will be involved in preparing this meeting.”
A 2021 inquiry found that about 330,000 people in France had been abused as minors by clergy or lay members of the Church, over the span of 70 years.
