During an in-flight press conference returning from his four-day Apostolic Journey to France, Pope Leo XIV reflected on key moments from his visit, notably the time spent in Lourdes accompanying the sick and elderly, as well as an evening with 80,000 young people gathered in a stadium. The Pope emphasized how the trip brought a sense of hope, restored dignity to marginalized individuals, and provided an opportunity to share the Gospel message.
When asked by journalists about sexual abuse within the Church, Pope Leo XIV acknowledged the deep, life-altering impact on victims’ faith when such harm occurs in a religious context. Addressing whether abuse is “systemic,” he noted that while certain structures or organizations within the Church have operated abusively at times, abuse remains fundamentally a human problem. He reiterated the Church’s ongoing responsibility and commitment to listen, walk alongside victims, and support their healing process.
Regarding end-of-life care and France’s recent legalization of euthanasia, the Pope defended the Church’s right to speak out on the sanctity of life without violating the separation of Church and State. Responding to queries about secularism (laïcité), he explained that advocating for human dignity and the defense of life is an application of the Gospel rather than political interference, reaffirming the Church’s stance that every human life holds intrinsic meaning even amidst illness, disability, and pain.