216,000 Victims of Pedophile Priests in France

Since 1950, 216,000 people have fallen victim to pedophile priests in France. This was stated in a report published on October 5 by a special commission investigating cases of sexual violence within the Roman Catholic Church in France. This independent commission has been working since 2018, interviewing priests, several thousand victims, and their relatives. They also examined church archives from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Justice of France.

The report spans 2,500 pages. Of the 115,000 Catholic priests who have served in France from 1950 to the present, between 2,900 and 3,200 have been involved in sexual abuses. Considering cases involving the church that did not necessarily include priests, the number of victims could exceed 330,000, according to the commission's head.

The publication of this report has been described as a "turning point in French history." The leadership of the Roman Catholic Church in France has stated that they feel horror and shame, and they have apologized for the atrocities committed.