Catholic Church

Pope Leo has called on the Catholic Church to confront its failings ahead of a meeting with survivors of clerical abuse in France. The appeal comes as the Church continues to reckon with the fallout of widespread abuse scandals, including those documented in France, and signals an emphasis on accountability and recognition of harm done to victims.

Pope Francis met with victims of clergy sexual abuse and called for 'wise leaders' in comments made as France prepares for its upcoming election. The meeting underscores the Catholic Church's ongoing reckoning with abuse scandals, while the Pope's remarks on leadership were widely read as a message aimed at voters ahead of the French vote.

The Pope has told French bishops that the Catholic Church carries a prophetic authority and must make its voice heard in the public square. The message, relayed by Vatican News, underscores the Church's role in public debate in France, where debates over secularism and religion's place in society remain contentious. The remarks affirm the bishops' mandate to engage on moral and social questions rather than confine the faith to private life.

Pope Leo addressed a crowd of around 150,000 pilgrims in Lourdes, France, calling on the Catholic Church to acknowledge and admit its mistakes. The remarks, delivered at one of the world's most famous Marian pilgrimage sites, are being read as a message of humility and institutional accountability, drawing wide attention from Catholics and observers of the Vatican alike.

Pope Leo XIV has issued his message for the Catholic Church's World Day of Migrants and Refugees, with the full text published by Catholic news outlets. The annual message typically addresses the Church's stance on migration, refugees and hospitality, and draws attention to the plight of displaced people worldwide. The publication is drawing attention among Catholic and international audiences following the pope's remarks.

Pope Leo travelled to Lourdes, the French shrine that draws millions of pilgrims each year, in a visit shadowed by fresh reminders of the Catholic Church's abuse scandals. The Washington Post reports the trip placed the pontiff at one of Catholicism's most sacred sites just as the church's past sins resurfaced, prompting reflection on accountability and the institution's credibility among the faithful.

Pope Leo has called on the Catholic Church in France to nurture the seeds of faith, addressing the French Church at a time when it continues to face declining religious practice and institutional challenges. The appeal, reported by Vatican News, emphasises renewal and the growth of belief among the faithful. Church observers see it as encouragement for local communities to strengthen their pastoral work and outreach.

Pope Leo has issued his message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, with the full text published by Catholic media. The message addresses the Catholic Church's position on the treatment of migrants and refugees, a topic of heightened debate worldwide. Readers and commentators are sharing and parsing the text for its guidance on migration policy and the Church's response to displaced people.

Pope Leo is visiting Lourdes, the southern French town where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. The shrine draws millions of pilgrims each year, many seeking healing at its springs, and a papal visit there carries major symbolic weight for the Catholic Church.