Alleged sexual assault charges escalate for Father Pierre, the latest accusations including seven instances against minors, as per recent reports
In a shocking development, new allegations of sexual abuse against the late French humanitarian Abbé Pierre have come to light, with at least 57 women and minors reporting incidents spanning several decades. The revelations were made public in a report released by the specialized firm Egae on July 9, and have prompted a joint response from Emmaus International and the Conference of French Bishops (CEF) to set up a financial reparations mechanism for the victims.
The new allegations, which include seven cases involving minors, were made during the first half of 2025. One of the most disturbing testimonies involves a sister who reported that Abbé Pierre masturbated on her genitals when she was just 11 years old. Another anonymized testimony involves a sister who confided that she was forced to perform oral sex at the age of 15.
The specificity of these new testimonies lies in the significant number of minors involved, as highlighted by Caroline de Haas, co-founder of Egae. However, the details of the specificity were not discussed in the report.
As for the financial reparations mechanism, while steps have been taken by the Fondation Abbé Pierre such as renaming itself and removing his name from its logo, no public details have emerged yet on any financial reparations mechanism established in response to these allegations. It is known that the mechanism should be operational by September, but the operational date beyond that has not been specified.
Adrien Chaboche, the general delegate of Emmaus International, has stated that the helpline dedicated to Father Pierre's victims will remain open as long as necessary, as there may be other victims who come forward. The wish is to keep the helpline open because there may be other victims who need support and a safe space to share their experiences.
These incidents have cast a dark shadow over the legacy of the renowned humanitarian, who passed away in 2007. The report was published in the weekly magazine La Vie, and the ongoing legal investigations are sure to raise questions about the handling of such allegations in the past and the steps being taken to ensure justice for the victims.
[1] Source: La Vie magazine, July 16, 2025.
- Despite his contributions to health-and-wellness initiatives, particularly in the area of French general-news reporting, the recent revelations of sexual abuse accusations against Abbé Pierre have tarnished his legacy.
- The publication of the Egae report, which uncovered sexual health-related crimes committed by Abbé Pierre, has sparked further interest in crime-and-justice discourse, as legal investigations are underway to ensure justice for the victims.
- In an effort to address the fallout from the sexual abuse allegations, Emmaus International and the Conference of French Bishops have announced plans to set up a financial reparations mechanism for victims in the fields of both health-and-wellness and sexual-health, with a dedicated helpline remaining open indefinitely to support any additional victims who may come forward.
