# At Lourdes, French bishops face victims of sexual abuse > From November 3 to 8, 2026, the bishops of France are meeting in Plenary Assembly at Lourdes, with the presidential election, Catholic education and end-of-life issues on the agenda. On the sidelines of this assembly, seven victims of sexual violence were received by Pope Leo XIV; one of them, Jérôme Guillement, recounted this interview. The seven victims addressed the bishops and announced the creation of a National Forum for Victims of Sexual Abuse in the Church, then formulated three proposals on November 4. The bishops presented their approach to weigh in on the 2027 presidential debate, refusing to give a voting instruction but planning meetings on the ground from December. On November 7, the new assistance body for victims of sexual abuse in the Church was receiving about one referral per day. **In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 8 events in Hautes-Pyrénées, followed from 2 November 2026 to 9 November 2026. 13 articles from 6 sources (society, politics); last updated on 9 November 2026 at 12:53. Reported toll: 7 arrests. - Status: ongoing - Category: Society, Politics - Place: Hautes-Pyrénées - First detected: 2 November 2026 at 16:46 - Updated: 9 November 2026 at 12:53 - Web page: https://acturadar.com/en/stories/281-at-lourdes-french-bishops-face-victims-of-sexual-abuse ## Reported figures - 7 arrests ## Coverage angles The three sides cover the Lourdes assembly with different emphases: the left focuses on the relationship with the far right, the center details both the victims angle and the presidential angle, while the right mainly presents the framework and program of the assembly. **Common ground** - The bishops of France are gathered in Plenary Assembly at Lourdes from November 3 to 8, 2026. - Combating sexual violence in the Church is on the assembly's agenda. - The bishops intend to weigh in on the 2027 presidential debate without issuing a voting instruction. - Pope Leo XIV's visit to France is a topic addressed at the assembly. **Differences** - The left highlights the bishops' lack of a stance against the far right, an angle absent from center and right articles. - The center details the victims' proposals and the creation of a National Forum, while the right article mentions combating sexual violence without detailing these initiatives. - The center and left address the modalities of the bishops' intervention in the campaign (meetings on the ground from December, themes such as Europe, immigration, purchasing power), elements not developed in the provided right article. ## Timeline (8 events) ### 2 November 2026 — [French bishops gather in plenary assembly in Lourdes](https://acturadar.com/en/events/7560-french-bishops-gather-in-plenary-assembly-in-lourdes.md) From November 3 to 8, 2026, French bishops will meet in Lourdes for their plenary assembly, with the presidential election, Catholic education and end-of-life care on the agenda. 2 sources, 3 articles · Lourdes — Hautes-Pyrénées ### 3 November 2026 — [A victim of sexual violence recounts his meeting with the pope at Lourdes](https://acturadar.com/en/events/7902-a-victim-of-sexual-violence-recounts-his-meeting-with-the-pope-at-lourdes.md) Jérôme Guillement, raped in his youth in Vendée, looks back on the one-on-one meeting between Pope Leo XIV and seven victims at Lourdes, on the sidelines of the French bishops' assembly. 1 sources, 1 articles · Lourdes — Hautes-Pyrénées ### 3 November 2026 — [Victims received by the Pope in Lourdes create a National Forum](https://acturadar.com/en/events/8364-victims-received-by-the-pope-in-lourdes-create-a-national-forum.md) The seven people received by the Pope in Lourdes have addressed the bishops gathered in assembly and announced the creation of a national forum for victims of sexual abuse in the Church. 2 sources, 2 articles · Lourdes — Hautes-Pyrénées ### 4 November 2026 — [Les victimes de violences sexuelles reçues à Lourdes formulent des propositions](https://acturadar.com/en/events/9437-les-victimes-de-violences-sexuelles-recues-a-lourdes-formulent-des-propositions.md) Les sept victimes de violences sexuelles reçues par le pape à Lourdes en septembre formulent trois propositions pour poursuivre les avancées, dont le Béarnais Jean-Marie Delbos, victime à Bétharram. 1 sources, 1 articles · Lourdes — Hautes-Pyrénées ### 4 November 2026 — [Les évêques de France veulent peser dans le débat présidentiel de 2027](https://acturadar.com/en/events/9530-les-eveques-de-france-veulent-peser-dans-le-debat-presidentiel-de-2027.md) Réunis en Assemblée plénière à Lourdes, les évêques de France ont présenté leur démarche pour faire entendre leur voix avant la présidentielle de 2027, sur des thèmes comme l'Europe, l'immigration ou le pouvoir d'achat. 1 sources, 1 articles · Lourdes — Hautes-Pyrénées ### 4 November 2026 — [Présidentielle 2027 : l'Église catholique refuse de donner une consigne de vote mais veut peser dans la campagne](https://acturadar.com/en/events/9736-presidentielle-2027-l-eglise-catholique-refuse-de-donner-une-consigne-de-vote.md) Les évêques de France annoncent qu'ils ne donneront pas de consigne de vote pour 2027. L'Église prévoit de multiplier les rencontres de terrain dès décembre pour « éclairer les électeurs » et rappeler sa doctrine sociale aux candidats. 3 sources, 3 articles · Nationwide ### 7 November 2026 — [La nouvelle instance d'aide aux victimes d'abus sexuels dans l'Église déjà très sollicitée](https://acturadar.com/en/events/12086-la-nouvelle-instance-d-aide-aux-victimes-d-abus-sexuels-dans-l-eglise-deja-tres.md) La nouvelle instance d'aide aux victimes d'abus sexuels dans l'Église reçoit environ une saisine par jour, selon l'article. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 9 November 2026 — [Une chronique revient sur la méthode des évêques pour la présidentielle](https://acturadar.com/en/events/14665-une-chronique-revient-sur-la-methode-des-eveques-pour-la-presidentielle.md) Une chronique hebdomadaire analyse la méthode des évêques français pour faire entendre leur voix dans la perspective de la présidentielle 2027. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide --- Cite as: Acturadar, “At Lourdes, French bishops face victims of sexual abuse”, https://acturadar.com/en/stories/281-at-lourdes-french-bishops-face-victims-of-sexual-abuse Methodology: https://acturadar.com/en/methodology