Pope Leo reaffirmed his commitment to ending abuse of children by Catholic priests in a meeting with French abuse survivors on Sunday, the Vatican said, hours after the pontiff urged the Church to admit its own failings and heal its "deep wounds."
In a two-hour meeting with seven survivors in France, where Leo is on a three-city weekend visit, the pope met privately with each of the victims and heard proposals for how to improve the Church's safeguarding measures, according to a Vatican statement.
"He thanked them for their painful testimony and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the harm they experienced is not repeated for others," the Vatican said.
The pontiff is on a four-day apostolic journey to France. During the visit, he attended a candlelight procession at the Grotto of the Apparitions, also known as the Grotto of Massabielle, at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes on Saturday. He also attended a private meeting with contemplative religious sisters at a Carmelite monastery in Lourdes on Sunday.