Pope Leo XIV will meet on Sunday (September 27, 2026) with victims of clerical sex abuse, a day after holding an open-air mass for hundreds of thousands of worshippers and praying at a holy shrine in Lourdes during his official visit to France.
Macron did not attend the mass but was represented by his wife Brigitte.
The president said in a message on X that France was “proud to welcome Pope Leo XIV and this monumental mass in the heart of Paris”.
Months ahead of a presidential election with the far-right surging and immigration high on the agenda, he prayed to the Virgin Mary to “obtain for France wise and generous leaders… eager to serve the common good. May they make her (France’s) voice heard in promoting the defence of fundamental human rights and peace in the world, rejecting the mentality of war once and for all. Around 800,000 people had gathered all the way beyond the Arc de Triomphe, the Vatican said.
“It is truly good and pleasant when brothers and sisters come together and glorify the greatness of God,” said Pope Leo, dressed in white liturgical vestments. “It’s one time in history to see the pope,” said Aline Riziki, 41, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has lived in France for 11 years. “I dropped everything to come here and see him, to pray for peace in the east” of her homeland, racked by conflict for decades,” she said. “We’re happy that, even if she won’t remember it, we’re sharing this with her,” she said, a small golden cross dangling over her jumper. “It’s an important moment for us to be surrounded by other people who also have faith.”
He is expected to meet privately with seven victims after promising to further efforts to reform the Church in the wake of the global sexual abuse scandal.
