Fact check
“Pope Leo XIV will continue his visit to France on Sunday in the southwestern pilgrimage town of Lourdes with a private meeting with victims of clergy sexual abuse.”
Reasoning
All three provided excerpts from France 24 report that Pope Leo XIV, after his Paris mass, will continue his four‑day French visit by traveling to Lourdes on Sunday for a private meeting with victims of clerical sexual abuse. The details are consistent across sources, confirming the claim.
On confidence: Multiple primary news excerpts directly state the planned private meeting in Lourdes.
Important context
The meeting is part of the Pope's first official papal visit to France in nearly two decades and follows a public Mass in Paris.
Evidence
Supporting (3)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourcePope Leo to meet clergy sexual abuse victims in Lourdes - France 24
Pope Leo to meet clergy sexual abuse victims in Lourdes - France 24 Skip to main content Advertising Pope Leo to meet clergy sexual abuse victims in Lourdes France After two days in Paris where he drew hundreds of thousands of worshippers,…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourcePope Leo to meet clergy sexual abuse victims in Lourdes - France 24
Leo XIV leads a prayer at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, France, on September 27, 2026. © Alberto Pizzoli, AFP Pope Leo XIV will meet on Sunday with victims of clerical sex abuse , a day after holding an emotional open-air Mass for…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourcePope Leo to meet clergy sexual abuse victims in Lourdes - France 24
minors in France over the span of 70 years. Among the victims who will meet the pope is a former pupil of the Notre-Dame de Bétharram institution , a boarding school in southwestern France at the centre of widespread accusations of…
Limitations
The evidence is limited to the cited France 24 articles; no additional independent confirmation is provided, but the sources are primary news reports.
- Last verified:
- Sep 27, 2026, 4:20 AM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 2.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
Pope Leo to meet clergy sexual abuse victims in LourdesFrance 24 · FRANCE 24