Brothers and Sisters, dear friends, those of you present here, bishops, members of the general secretariat, collaborators of our Conference, journalists, and guests, and those who are following this speech thanks to KTO, the spring assembly of the bishops of France in 2025 was preceded by a day and a half of evaluation and perspective sessions in our fight against sexual violence in the Church. Some of you watching this might feel that we, the bishops, spend too much time on this or think only of this. I want to acknowledge that we had two intense, serious, but beautiful days of reflection and gratitude towards the victims who have agreed to work with us, with a desire to build trust and ensure the Church is a place of life, peace, and joy, grounded in truth and justice.

A message emerged from these sessions: "Let us resolutely serve the truth!" On March 31 and April 1, we took stock of our battle against sexual violence in the Catholic Church. We gathered with three hundred people, including victims, laity, clergy, and experts in Lourdes, during six round tables and various sessions, all in a spirit of collaboration and mutual listening. We owe deep gratitude to the victims for their willingness to journey with us, aiding the Church in combating its inherent evils and aligning more closely with Christ’s mission. From the CIASE report, we have begun a journey that must continue indefinitely to foster a culture of vigilance, respect, and protection, especially for the vulnerable and children.

The session was marked by the poignant testimonies of several victims. With the Catholic Teaching Secretariat and religious congregations, we urge those who suffered violence in educational institutions to come forward. As the Bible says, truth liberates (cf. John 8:32) and leads to healing paths.

Let us not be afraid to hear the cries of those who suffer within and because of our Church. Together, let us strive to make our Church safer. We aim to face this crisis by harnessing God’s transforming power, emphasizing vigilance and transformative commitment across all communicants. Our belief is firm in a liberating God.

On a final note, we are implementing additional processes to support adults who face or have faced abuse. We aim to align closely with both ecclesiastical and civil justice systems. Specialized support teams will aid victims in reaching the justice system while ensuring that unaddressed grievances receive attention.

Succession in leadership also brings to the fore. We have elected new officers and look forward to innovative leadership to tackle future challenges. Lastly, I convey my heartfelt thanks for the cooperation in difficult times, focusing on justice, truth, and upliftment.

Thank you.