Overview

• A new investigative book reveals that the Vatican and French bishops were aware of Abbé Pierre's sexual misconduct since 1955 but halted a judicial inquiry by 1957.
• The French Bishops’ Conference and the Conference of Religious have called for full access to Vatican archives to clarify the extent of institutional complicity.
• The book, based on declassified Vatican documents, details 57 abuse allegations, including 35 corroborated cases, against the late founder of Emmaüs International.
• The revelations also highlight Abbé Pierre's antisemitic statements from 1944 and financial opacity regarding Emmaüs donations.
• The Church faces growing pressure for accountability, with survivors and religious leaders denouncing decades of silence and cover-ups.