French Sexual Abuse Victims Say Access to Pope Leo XIV During Visit Is Insufficient

They express concern over the future independence of France’s compensation and listening institution.

On Tuesday, Marie Derain de Vaucresson, president of the National Independent Commission for Recognition and Reparations (INIRR), said numerous victims of sexual abuse within the French church consider the space they will have during Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the country this weekend to be “insufficient.”

“It is a missed opportunity,” said the INIRR president, whose institution was created by the French Bishops’ Conference to channel compensation to victims of abuse in the church.

The institution, which has already provided compensation to nearly 2,000 of the 330,000 victims identified in a 2021 report, considers the initiative launched by French bishops to be an example that could serve other countries.

Leo XIV will meet individually with seven victims during his visit to the Marian shrine of Lourdes, a number that various groups consider small and unrepresentative.

Absolutely despicable. Thank God they were exposed.

The Roman Catholic Church has the highest documented history of institutional sexual abuse, primarily of minors by clergy and religious personnel. The history goes back centuries. https://t.co/G9RmAvFRNn

— Jenny Wakefield (@JennyWakefiel12) September 22, 2026

“There could have been a meeting with a larger number of victims who could have agreed to deliver a structured, collective message,” said Derain de Vaucresson, who said the French church is “ahead” of others when it comes to recognizing and compensating victims.

That progress “should inspire the Vatican to follow this example of seeking the truth and encourage other bishops’ conferences to follow the same path,” she stated.

Derain de Vaucresson also mentioned that she would tell the pope: “Commit yourself personally, commit the Vatican and the various national bishops’ conferences so that everyone follows the path of recognition and reparation.”

“The important thing is that the victims’ message is heard… That he understands that the problem of sexual abuse in the church is not a page that can simply be turned,” said Brigitte Navailles, a victim who believes the hierarchy must undertake “profound changes” with theological and liturgical significance.

Those changes must be inspired by “the words of the victims. Otherwise, our testimony, which has come at great cost and suffering, will have been in vain,” she added.

“If I could speak to the pope, I would ask him: What do you want to do to make the established and institutional system of silence stop?” said Pierre, another sexual abuse victim who prefers not to give his last name.

The young man considers himself “fortunate” to have found a body for listening and recognition such as the INIRR, and in his view, the same path should be offered in other countries to break the silence that for years has prevailed in the church.

While performing on Saturday Night Live in 1992, Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II in protest of alleged sexual abuse by priests, to massive public ridicule. In 2003, Pope John Paul II publicly acknowledged sexual abuse within the Catholic Church pic.twitter.com/Vir5LJlTuX

— ▲ Bravista♔ (Holy Sh*t History) (@Naira_Bravista) September 19, 2026

The victims also lamented that the French church has opted to end the INIRR’s work. It will be replaced by another body whose mandate has not yet been specified but which, they suspect, will not have the same independence.

“The INIRR’s work has been formidable… and my fear is that the new body will not be as independent,” Navailles said.

Derain de Vaucresson considers it “essential” that the new structure have the same independence with which they have worked, something she does not find in the various initiatives adopted in other countries, such as Spain. She believes there is still much work to be done and that a dynamic and an experience had been established that are now under threat.

“The new body will need time, and during that time there will be people who will be in a situation of insecurity. It is a shame to put an end to an institution that works well,” she added.

The INIRR was launched in 2022 after a report identified 330,000 victims of abuse in France in the church or religious institutions. It has received 1,969 victims, of whom 1,184 have already received reparations, at a cost to the French church’s coffers of nearly 50 million euros.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: EFE – INIRR

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