Saturday, August 8, 2026 - Pope Leo XIV is set to meet privately with survivors of clergy sexual abuse during his four-day visit to France from September 25 to 28, putting the issue of accountability and protection back at the center of the Catholic Church's agenda.
The Vatican said the survivors themselves will help prepare the meeting, although the exact location and timing have not yet been announced. The pope's decision comes as pressure continues for the Church to respond more directly to survivors and strengthen safeguards against abuse.
The meeting carries particular weight in France, where a landmark 2021 investigation estimated that about 330,000 children were sexually abused over seven decades by clergy or other Church personnel.
Leo has already signaled that tackling abuse will remain a priority, including through his recent appointment of French Bishop Thibault Verny to lead the Vatican's child-protection advisory commission. The pope also met abuse survivors during his recent visit to Spain, making the planned French encounter part of a broader effort to engage directly with victims.
The upcoming visit will therefore be watched closely for more than its diplomatic and religious events. Leo is scheduled to visit Paris, UNESCO headquarters, Lourdes and Metz, but his meeting with survivors could become one of the most closely scrutinized moments of the trip.
For survivors and advocates, the critical question is whether private conversations will translate into stronger prevention, greater transparency and concrete action across the Church.
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