Fact check
“Pope Leo XIV will meet privately in the afternoon with victims of clergy sexual abuse.”
Reasoning
All provided excerpts from France 24's liveblog on 27 September 2026 explicitly state that Pope Leo XIV will meet privately in the afternoon with victims of clergy sexual abuse during his visit to Lourdes. No contradictory information is present.
On confidence: Multiple independent excerpts from the same primary liveblog source consistently report the private meeting.
Important context
The claim concerns a specific scheduled private meeting during the Pope's Lourdes visit on 27 September 2026. The evidence comes from a live coverage article, which is a primary source for the event schedule.
Evidence
Supporting (5)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceLive: Pope Leo XIV holds open-air Mass at Lourdes pilgrimage site - France 24
first official papal state visit to the country in 18 years. He is expected to hold an open-air Mass this morning at the Lourdes Sanctuary and will meet privately in the afternoon with victims of clergy sexual abuse. Follow our liveblog…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceLive: Pope Leo XIV holds open-air Mass at Lourdes pilgrimage site - France 24
symbolizes the suffering endured by victims of sexual abuse within the Church. 27/09/2026 - 11:02 The Mass begins, with 150,000 people in attendance Pope Leo XIV is celebrating Mass at the Lourdes Shrine. The first reading will be in…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceLive: Pope Leo XIV holds open-air Mass at Lourdes pilgrimage site - France 24
- 09:35 🎥 France's baptism boom as more young people seek catholic community The number of adult baptisms in France each year has tripled since 2016, hitting 13,000 this year. The numbers suggest a newfound interest in the church from…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceLive: Pope Leo XIV holds open-air Mass at Lourdes pilgrimage site - France 24
pontiff at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes on Sunday. Local businesses are hoping the influx of visitors will also boost the economy, as pilgrims spend money on souvenirs, food and other goods. 27/09/2026 - 09:42 The Pope's program in…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceLive: Pope Leo XIV holds open-air Mass at Lourdes pilgrimage site - France 24
pilgrimage town of Lourdes. A 2021 inquiry found that clergy or lay members of the Church had abused about 330,000 people as minors in France over the span of 70 years. Among the victims who will meet the pope is a former pupil of the…
Limitations
All evidence originates from a single news outlet's liveblog; no additional independent confirmation is provided. The liveblog may reflect planned events that could change, but no indication of alteration is present in the excerpts.
- Last verified:
- Sep 27, 2026, 4:40 AM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 2.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
Live: Pope Leo XIV to hold open-air Mass in Lourdes pilgrimage siteFrance 24 · FRANCE 24