Visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lourdes: between commitments on the end of life and the fight against sexual abuse

During this time dedicated to the sick, the sovereign pontiff planned to speak about the end of life, a subject which largely mobilized the Church in France, while Parliament voted on a text on assisted dying.

New marathon day for Leo XIV for his third day in France, Sunday September 27. On this occasion, the Pope encouraged the Church of France to "continue" its action in the face of the "scourge" of sexual violence, during a closed-door meeting. Leo XIV also called for “peace” and “dialogue” during a giant open-air mass in Lourdes (Hautes-Pyrénées). Before his meeting with victims of sexual violence at the end of the day, the sovereign pontiff must meet patients cared for at Accueil Notre-Dame.

A new XXL mass. Around 200,000 people gathered in front of the Lourdes sanctuary, where the pope celebrated another mass. Among them, Michelle Sabatté, the dean of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, who will celebrate her 108th birthday, and who made the trip specially by ambulance. In order to avoid any oddity, given the tone of the day, the site decided to completely cover the mosaics of the Slovenian priest Marko Rupnik, accused of sexual assault, which adorn the facade of the Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire basilica.

A closed-door meeting with victims. Leo XIV will meet behind closed doors with seven victims of sexual violence in the Church, at the end of the day. “Everyone participates in this meeting in their own name, free to speak, their beliefs and their choices,” warned the victims in a press release. Among them, Jean-Marie Delbos, victim of the Notre-Dame de Bétharram school, Bertrand Virieux, victim of priest Bernard Preynat, or even a victim of Abbot Pierre who remained anonymous.

“No human self should make you lose the certainty of your dignity.”

Leo XIV reaffirms his opposition to the law on the end of life. “It is in the name of this inalienable dignity that the temptation to inflict death in the form of false compassion must be firmly rejected.”

“What is legal is not necessarily moral,” adds the Pope, before appealing to the community of caregivers, whose vocation is “to watch over the suffering person and not eliminate them.”

It is "impossible to consider it normal to take one's life", says the Pope in Lourdes.

“At a time when certain societies tend to look away and turn a blind eye to human dignity, it is urgent to maintain, among ourselves and others, a contemplative outlook.”

Leo XIV speaks before the sick in Paris for a speech "on life" where he once again refers to the debates on the end of life. “Here [in Lourdes], fragility is not hidden. It becomes the place of a sacred encounter.”

“The human person is worthy by the simple fact that he exists (...) his dignity cannot be measured and cannot be discussed.”

The pope's visit continues to Lourdes (Hautes-Pyrénées), where Leo XIV is currently hearing several sick people give their testimony. Maguerite Hourt, member of Accueil Notre Dame de Lourdes, tells how the establishment offered her a job, after numerous unsuccessful applications. She expresses her “pride” in working there, despite her disability.

“When I see these images (...) I see men, men and more men.”

“All clergy are not aggressors, but there are 4 to 6%,” Yolande du Fayet de la Tour recalls, with great emotion, on franceinfo. “This means that we are sitting at the table of our attackers,” she adds.

“In recent years, you have faced with determination the painful scourge of abuse of minors committed by members of the clergy or in the ecclesial context.”

We have the details of the remarks made by the Pope this morning before the bishops. “You have taken courageous steps to respond to them, through listening, the search for truth, justice, forgiveness, reparation and a determined commitment to a culture of prevention and protection against these crimes,” said Leo XIV, according to the Vatican.

“It is appropriate to continue on the path started while maintaining the greatest vigilance. At the same time, your clergy needs to be supported and encouraged; I know that they are the subject of your paternal concern.”