catholicnewsworld | Pope Leo XIV spoke with the approximately 80 journalists accompanying him on his Apostolic Journey to France, as he flew from Metz to Rome on Monday, Sept. 28, in the evening.
[Pope, in English:] I'll start by speaking in English. And then if you need translation we can help with that. First of all, once again thank you for the work you've done. I think you were kept pretty busy for the past four days and, in a certain sense, it was a very intense program.
The four days were literally filled with many blessings. Almost miracles, I would say, especially the time at Lourdes, walking with, accompanying so many people who are sick and suffering and seeing how the grace of God's presence manifested in many different ways, touches people's hearts, transforms their lives, and, to use an expression that I mentioned there, restores dignity to the sick, the elderly, those who in some parts of society are discarded.
So, there were many signs, many expressions, many symbols throughout the four days. And personally, I felt very blessed myself to have the privilege to visit France to encourage especially young people who are obviously searching for something.
It was so apparent at the stadium, the evening with 80,000 young people gathered together from around France and their enthusiasm and their joy and the sense of hope that they offered, but especially I think that they received and will be able to share with others.
So, amongst the many different things that we celebrated and lived during these four days I would say those are some of the highlights, and not to exclude others, but that that were quite significant. I'm very happy to have had you along on this trip, and if you have a few questions.
[Cyriac Zeller, I-Media:] Good evening, Your Holiness. Yesterday, during a press conference, the victims you met told us that you had acknowledged to them the systemic nature of sexual abuse in the church. Is that indeed the case? Could you explain your position on this? Do you consider sexual abuse in the Church to be systemic?
[Pope, in English:]
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