The Independent National Authority for Recognition and Reparation (INIRR) reports that about 2,000 people in France have sought reparations for sexual abuse by priests or other church representatives as the body prepares to end its five-year mandate. INIRR has issued over 1,184 decisions and awarded survivors an average of 36,892 euros. It stopped accepting new claims on August 31 but will continue supporting victims until the end of next year; a permanent successor will focus on restorative justice and long-term care. The report was released ahead of the Pope's visit to France.
About 2,000 Survivors in France Seek Church Reparations as INIRR Ends Mandate
Activists fighting child abuse stage a protest near the home of a former Catholic priest suspected of sexually assaulting dozens of children, in Etrechy, outside Paris, Wednesday, Sept 16, 2026, Placards read from the left: '330,000 victims of child sexual abuse, never again' and Delfosse, the church knew'. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
About 2,000 people in France who say they were sexually abused by priests or other church representatives have requested reparations from the Independent National Authority for Recognition and Reparation (INIRR), the body announced as it prepares to conclude its five-year mandate.
The INIRR emphasized that its remit went beyond monetary awards to include psychological, practical and symbolic forms of support. The report was published ahead of the Pope's four-day visit to France, during which he is expected to meet privately with several survivors.
Key Findings
The INIRR has made more than 1,184 formal decisions granting financial or other reparations. Survivors who completed the process were awarded an average of 36,892 euros (about $42,186). After approval, compensation decisions are transferred to a special fund financed by the church for payment.
The authority stopped accepting new submissions on August 31 after completing its scheduled mandate but will continue to accompany and support victims until the end of next year. A new, permanent body is planned to succeed the INIRR, with a focus on restorative justice, long-term guidance and ongoing victim support.
Recognition, Support and Healing
When a case is finalised, survivors receive a 'letter of recognition' that formally acknowledges the abuse and details the awarded compensation. For many recipients, that acknowledgment is as important as the financial award.
'The letter was a shockwave for me,' said Cécile Reneaume, 34, who received reparations after being abused as a young child by the leader of a Catholic community who later died. 'It meant that the little girl who once had been unable to speak was finally believed.'
'My first reaction was violent,' said Eric, 55, who declined to give his surname, when told the amount he would receive. 'I felt anger, disbelief. Am I worth this? ... It took me time to understand that it wasn't me who was being assessed.'
Reparations may also include nonfinancial measures such as psychological support, help writing personal testimonies, meetings with local church representatives, or memorial initiatives like plaques.
Demographics and Memory
People contacting the INIRR last year were about 56 years old on average; roughly two-thirds were men and one-third women. Some survivors experienced partial or total memory loss of the events due to trauma; therapeutic interventions, including hypnosis in some cases, have helped individuals recover memories and seek recognition.
The 2021 inquiry that prompted the reparations process estimated some 330,000 children were sexually abused over roughly 70 years by priests or other figures linked to the church and described a systemic cover-up by church officials. That inquiry led France's bishops to agree to provide reparations and to cooperate with the independent process.
What Comes Next: The INIRR's successor will be a permanent body charged with long-term victim support and restorative justice measures aimed at preventing future abuse and ensuring sustained care for survivors.
Help us improve.
