Pope Leo urged bishops to take decisive action to eradicate what he called the "scourge" of abuse during a visit to the French pilgrimage site of Lourdes on Friday. He addressed a group of bishops before presiding over a public service at the shrine, emphasising the need for vigilance and reform within the Church.
Call to church leaders
In remarks to the assembled bishops, the Pope said the Church must confront and root out abuse wherever it is found. His intervention came shortly before he led a liturgical service that drew thousands of faithful to the site, underscoring the pastoral as well as institutional dimensions of the issue.
Service at a major pilgrimage site
The service in Lourdes was attended by thousands of worshippers who had gathered at the shrine in France. The event combined prayer and liturgy with the Pope's appeal to church authorities to intensify efforts to prevent and address abuse, a theme he returned to in his public remarks.
Context and significance
Lourdes is one of the Roman Catholic Church's best-known pilgrimage destinations, attracting visitors for its association with Marian devotion and reported healings. The Pope's comments reflect ongoing concerns within the Church about accountability and the protection of vulnerable people, and they come amid wider public scrutiny of the institution's handling of abuse cases.