Pope Leo urges bishops to root out 'scourge' of clerical abuse during Lourdes visit

Pope Leo XIV urged French bishops to root out clerical abuse in Lourdes on Sunday, ahead of a private meeting with seven survivors.

• Leo told French bishops to persevere against the 'painful scourge' of abuse committed by clergy, 'maintaining the greatest vigilance.'
• The pope led an open-air Mass before thousands of worshippers at the Lourdes shrine on Sunday.
• A 2021 inquiry found about 330,000 children were sexually abused by clergy or church members in France over 70 years.
• Survivors published an open letter in Libération saying the seven were 'carefully selected' by the church, not survivors' groups.