Pope Leo visits Lourdes in France and calls for the Catholic Church to root out the “scourge” of sexual abuse. Ahead of his scheduled meeting with survivors at the shrine, he tells high-ranking French bishops about the “painful scourge of abuse of minors” and urges continued action. He also leads a service attended by thousands of worshippers.
Both outlets report that the Pope’s remarks are directed to bishops gathered before his public programme, highlighting the Church’s response to abuse allegations. Deutsche Welle emphasizes the Pope’s acknowledgment of steps taken by French bishops, describing them as “courageous,” while noting the timing of the survivor meeting. The BBC focuses more on the Pope’s message that abuse must be eradicated, set alongside his Lourdes service and attendance by a large congregation.
