Following a meeting with victims in Lourdes, France, Pope Leon XIV has clarified remarks concerning the systemic nature of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. Victims previously reported the Pope acknowledged abuse as “systemic” during their encounter. However, on the return flight, the Pope stated he had instead spoken of organizations *within* the Church that had, at times, functioned abusively as a system. This nuance alters the initial understanding of his comments, suggesting he did not directly confirm abuse was inherent to the Church's structure. The clarification emerged on Monday after Sunday’s meeting in Lourdes. The Pope’s statements are being closely scrutinized by abuse survivors and observers. This development highlights the ongoing sensitivity surrounding the issue of sexual abuse within the Church.