LOURDES, France: Pope Leo underlined his commitment to stopping abuse of minors by Catholic priests in a meeting with French abuse survivors on Sunday, according to the Vatican. The meeting took place just a few hours after the pontiff encouraged the Church to recognise its own faults and heal its “deep wounds.
According to a statement released by the Vatican, Pope Francis met personally with each of the victims during a two-hour discussion with seven survivors in France, where he is now on a weekend visit to three cities. During this meeting, the Pope also listened to suggestions for how to enhance the safeguarding procedures of the Church. According to the statement, “He thanked them for their painful testimony and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the harm they experienced is not repeated for others with regard to other people.”
After the meeting, the survivors expressed that it was an emotional and touching experience for them. They said they felt the pontiff was listening, and they were pleased by his compassion and his knowledge of their specific problems. However, they also hoped the words would be matched by action.
“He certainly believes that the Church has done a great deal in France, but he also believes that the Church in France still has a tremendous amount left to do,” Jérôme Guillement said. “He believes that the Church in France has done a great deal in France.
Also Read:
Gaza Humanitarian Crisis: UNICEF Reports 300 Children Killed in 300 Days
Why the US Launched Retaliatory Strikes on Iran: Causes and Consequences
