Pope Leo XIV in Lourdes: Survivors of Sexual Violence Expect Concrete Steps

Lourdes – 10 August 2026: The announced visit by Pope Leo XIV to Lourdes at the end of September is accompanied by expectations that go beyond the usual course of a pilgrimage. According to a report by Franceinfo, the Pope is expected to meet people who have experienced sexual violence in the Catholic Church. After years of efforts to address the issue, many survivors are demanding that Church commitments be followed by verifiable steps.

The visit to France is scheduled for 25 to 28 September 2026. The published programme of the French Bishops’ Conference provides for a Mass on Sunday, 27 September, on the esplanade in front of the Grotto of Lourdes. Details of the meeting with survivors reported by Franceinfo have so far not been included in the publicly available programme.

In March, Leo XIV urged the French bishops to continue combating abuse and to listen attentively to survivors. His warning is directed at a Church whose handling of sexual violence has for years been marked by a loss of trust, legal disputes and a struggle for recognition. In 2021, the independent CIASE inquiry commission documented the scale of abuse in France and called for far-reaching reforms.

An institutional change is now also imminent. On 1 September 2026, the new structure Renaître is set to continue the work of the independent body INIRR. It is intended for people who experienced sexual violence as minors at the hands of clergy or lay people appointed by bishops. According to the Church, Renaître will combine regional contact points with nationally coordinated, independent operations.

For survivors, this transition is delicate. Since its establishment, INIRR has processed applications and enabled procedures for recognition and support. Nevertheless, there has been criticism: assistance has at times been too slow, responsibilities have been difficult to understand, and Church bodies have continued to exert too much influence over how cases are handled. The new structure will be judged on whether it makes procedures more reliable and independent.

The location of the planned meeting also carries significance. Sick people, relatives and pilgrims travel to Lourdes in search of comfort and healing. If the Pope meets there with people who experienced violence at the hands of Church representatives, that religious hope will confront a history of harm, silence and belated recognition. A conversation alone is therefore unlikely to meet expectations.

The trip will also take Leo XIV to Paris and Metz. In Lourdes, however, his visit will be directly tied to the credibility of the Church’s efforts to address abuse. Renaître is due to begin its work on 1 September – just under four weeks before the planned papal Mass on 27 September 2026.