The head of France's Catholic bishops has called for a judicial investigation into Abbé Pierre following fresh allegations of sexual abuse against the priest and founder of the Emmaüs charity, who died in 2007.
Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, president of the French Bishops Conference (CEF), told French radio on Friday that he had filed a formal request with the Paris prosecutor's office to investigate potential cover-ups of sexual abuse and assault.
Nine new accusations emerged this week in a report commissioned by Emmaüs, bringing the total number of testimonies to 33 since initial revelations surfaced in July. The allegations span from the 1950s to the 2000s.
Among the latest accusations, a family member reported experiencing "sexual contact on her breasts and mouth in the late 90s", while another testimony described "sexual act with penetration on an underage boy".
De Moulins-Beaufort said he was horrified by the latest revelations and therefore had put his request for a legal investigation into writing.
"Only the justice system has the means of investigation necessary to allow all the possible truth to be revealed about the silences and non-denunciations from which Abbé Pierre could have benefited," he said.
French church knew of sexual abuse by late priest Abbé Pierre, bishop says
Renowned priest
Born Henri Grouès in 1912, Abbe Pierre was known across France for his work with the poor through Emmaüs and the Abbé Pierre Foundation. He died in 2007 at age 94.
This is the third report from the firm mandated by Emmaüs to shed light on the accusations against him.
While criminal prosecution of Abbé Pierre is no longer possible due to his death, investigators could examine potential accomplices or those who failed to report abuse at the time.
De Moulins-Beaufort said the request for an investigation was an opportunity to "get to the bottom" of the story and to determine how "the facts were not reported to justice for all these years".
Since the revelations began in July 2024, the church has faced mounting criticism for its silence on the allegations. De Moulins-Beaufort expressed "immense sorrow" to victims and encouraged others to come forward.
"Anyone who has experienced sexual violence at the hands of Abbé Pierre should feel free to contact church support services or Emmaüs' listening platforms," he said.
In September, the church took the unusual step of opening its archives on Abbé Pierre to researchers and journalists, bypassing the typical 75-year waiting period.
French church unlocks archives early on priest accused of sexual abuse
Rebrand
In the wake of the allegations, French cities have taken steps to distance themselves from Abbé Pierre.
In September, the mayor of Lyon said "the name Abbé Pierre would be removed from the public space" at a plaza in the city centre.
The Abbé Pierre Foundation said it would change its name, and a memorial centre in Normandy, where the priest resided for many years, will close permanently.
A statue of Abbé Pierre was removed from the village of Norges-la-Ville in Eastern France, where the second largest Emmaüs community centre is located.
