Pope Léon XIV will meet seven victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church during his visit to Lourdes, France, on September 27, according to the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF). This private meeting, which will take place without cameras, is intended to foster personal conversations. The attendees will be selected by the CEF, but the identities of the victims will not be made public. The decision to limit the number of participants reflects the Pope's desire to create a more intimate and direct dialogue. The Betharram group, which represents victims of abuse at a Catholic institution near Lourdes, has said it will not be invited to the meeting. Alain Esquerre, the group's spokesperson, expressed disappointment, stating that the group had hoped for a collective meeting to confront the Church's past and request a clear action plan. He criticized the Church for what he called "institutional contempt" and argued that focusing on individual meetings risks keeping the issue in the background rather than addressing it openly. Sud-Ouest, a regional newspaper, reported that one victim from Betharram will be present at the meeting, though this individual did not request it and was contacted directly by the CEF. Other attendees are expected to come from different parts of France, including one from Brittany. Philippe Chemineau, president of the association MVR (victims of Catholic schools), expressed frustration over not being invited, calling the selection process unclear and unfair. The CEF stated that the seven victims chosen will represent a range of experiences, including men and women, minors and adults at the time of the abuse, and people from various regions and backgrounds. The Ampaseo group, which includes victims of Catholic schools in the west of France, has been given permission to present a stained glass window created by a victim to the Pope during his visit. Additionally, victims who cannot attend the meeting will be able to send written messages to the Pope, which will be compiled into a collection and presented to him. A separate day of restitution will also be organized for the victims. The Pope previously met with six victims of abuse in Spain in June, though some major organizations were not invited at that time. In response, the Pope called for "truth, justice, and reparation" to address the "plague" of sexual violence within the Church. A 2021 report estimated that around 330,000 minors in France had been victims of abuse by church personnel since 1950. Since then, the Church has set up several committees to listen to victims and provide redress.