Pope Leo XIV begins four-day visit to France amid church scandals

Pope Leo XIV is undertaking a four-day visit to France, marking the first papal trip to the country in nearly two decades. Preparations for the visit have been underway for months, with the Pontiff expected to engage with various aspects of French society and the Catholic Church's presence there.

The visit occurs against a backdrop of significant challenges for the Church, including ongoing scandals related to sexual abuse. Pope Leo is anticipated to meet with victims of abuse, a move seen as an effort to address the crisis and attempt to mend the Church's standing in a predominantly secular nation with differing views on social issues like abortion and euthanasia.