Seven individuals who have survived sexual violence within the Catholic Church will meet with Pope Leo XIV in Lourdes on September 27. In a joint statement released on September 16, the victims emphasized that their meeting with the Pope is not an endorsement of the Church’s actions, nor does it imply they are abandoning their demands for justice. They clarified that the meeting is a step toward dialogue, not reconciliation, and that they remain committed to their call for accountability. The announcement of the meeting has stirred debate, with some groups not invited expressing disappointment over the limited nature of the gathering and the unclear process by which participants were selected. The signatories of the statement made it clear that they are not representing all victims or those not attending the meeting. Each person is participating independently, with their own voice and perspectives, and they are not acting as a formal delegation of the Church. Five of the participants have chosen to reveal their identities: Jean-Marie Delbos, a victim of the Catholic establishment of Bétharram; Véronique Garnier, from the Faith and Resilience collective; Jérôme Guillement, a victim of a priest from Vendée; Olivier Mardi, co-founder of Free Voices of Touraine and a victim of Father Tartu; and Bertrand Virieux, co-founder of the former Lyon-based association Free Speech on the Preynat/Barbarin case. Two individuals have opted to remain anonymous, including a victim of Father Pierre. The decision to stay anonymous, like the freedom of expression of others, is said to be fully respected. Before the private meeting, which the participants describe as a “particularly important moment,” they held a preparatory meeting on Monday with representatives from the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) and the Conference of Religious Men and Women of France (Corref), in the presence of Bishop of Amiens, Monsignor Gérard Le Stang. This meeting allowed the group to discuss the key issues they intend to raise with the Pope, even though they acknowledge there are differences in perspectives, which they say they respect. Now, the participants are focusing on preparing for the meeting and have decided not to speak to the media before the event. They will be available to testify afterward, each sharing their own voice, story, and what they wish to convey.