Abbé Pierre: One year later, Emmaus continues its transparency efforts and has finalised its reparation measures
Following the first revelations in July 2024 concerning the sexual abuse committed by Abbé Pierre, the Emmaus Movement chose transparency and attention to the victims, whose courage we commend and for whose trust we are grateful. This choice led to the establishment of an innovative set of systems for listening, support, sociological and historical investigation, and financial reparation. These measures were designed to receive the testimonies of victims, provide them with support, and come to a full acknowledgement of the facts in their entirety.
In taking this approach, Emmaus has two objectives: to confront the reality of the abuses committed by Abbé Pierre throughout his life and to centre all its actions around supporting the victims.
A listening system has remained open without interruption
As soon as the first victim testimonies were made public in summer 2024, Emmaus tasked Groupe Égaé with implementing and managing a listening system to collect victim testimonies as part of a call for testimonies that led to the publication of three summary documents, the last of which was released in January 2025. After this system, Emmaus wished to keep a helpline open for victims of Abbé Pierre who might not have shared their story during the call for testimonies. (The helpline activity report for January–July 2025 is available here in French.) Since January 2025, twelve new testimonies have been received through the helpline, including seven that involve victims who were minors (ages 10–17) when the abuse took place. These testimonies are in addition to the ones already collected between 2024 and 2025. One of them has been reported to legal authorities due to the serious nature of the acts described, which implicate third parties, including two individuals who have since passed away but who spent significant time in Abbé Pierre’s personal circle and held responsibilities in a local Emmaus entity.
Each victim who comes forward can receive psychological support, access to support groups and, if she wishes, a meeting with Movement leadership. This reception system, managed by Groupe Égaé, will remain active as long as necessary to allow each and every person concerned to come forward, with full anonymity and in their own time. This work of listening, acknowledgement and reparation has been and will continue to be a top priority of the Emmaus Movement.
Launch of a financial reparation system in partnership with the Church
One year after beginning this acknowledgement process, Emmaus and the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) decided to jointly establish a financial reparation system for victims of Abbé Pierre, which will be supported by the Commission for Recognition and Reparation (CRR). This decision was approved beforehand by the Board of Emmaus International and the General Assembly of Emmaus France. The system will be complemented by a preexisting pledge from the Independent National Authority for Recognition and Reparation (INIRR) to make reparations to the three Abbé Pierre victims who contacted them. Both the CRR and the INIRR are specialised entities that are entirely independent.
The reparation system will be operational as of September 2025 and financed solely with net assets from the Emmaus Movement and the CEF. No donations to the Emmaus Movement will be used to fund these reparations. The Church and Emmaus are making this joint financial effort based on the principle of shared responsibility: from 1954 onwards, Abbé Pierre was a public figure associated with both the priesthood and his role at the Emmaus Foundation.
The amounts disbursed will be determined by the INIRR and the CRR on an entirely independent basis according to institutional criteria and each individual case. Strict safeguards will be in place to protect anonymity, independent evaluation of each case, and the confidentiality of the proceedings.
Acknowledgement of Emmaus’ historical responsibility
For decades, the Emmaus Movement benefitted from the public image of Abbé Pierre, whose reputation contributed greatly to the recognition and legitimacy of the struggle against poverty. The revelations in recent months have shown that Abbé Pierre, a public figure who was universally respected, committed very serious acts of abuse. For Emmaus, this reality is now part of its founder’s history.
Establishing a financial reparation system is therefore a logical next step. It extends the duty of transparency to include one of reparation, in all its dimensions – moral, psychological and material. It is thus in line with both our approach to the victims and our responsibility as an organisation that was co-founded by Abbé Pierre and strongly associated with his image for many years.
Linking reparation, heritage and research
The work of transparency does not end with institutional acknowledgement or reparations. The Study Commission on the Abuses Committed by Abbé Pierre (CEVAP), under the leadership of sociologist Céline Béraud and housed at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), has been tasked by Emmaus with analysing and investigating exactly how it was possible for Abbé Pierre to engage in this abusive behaviour for decades with total impunity.
The independent research process began in February 2025. For the Emmaus Movement, it is essential to understand what mechanisms made this possible so as to prevent it from ever happening again. A report from the CEVAP is expected in early 2027.
A process unprecedented in scope and coherence
A year ago, Emmaus made the choice to pursue two ambitious goals at the same time: taking the victims’ testimonies into account and upholding its institutional responsibilities. The focus has shifted from listening to support, from acknowledgement to rigorous sociological and historical inquiry, and from initial shock at the revelations to a desire to make amends. None of these efforts is enough by itself, but all together they constitute what we hope is a coherent and comprehensive process.
This process also addresses a moral necessity: acknowledging Abbé Pierre’s victims, who have been ignored for a long time and must now be heard, believed and supported.
These choices have enabled the Emmaus Movement to remain true to the ideal of justice on which its work was founded.
A new phase has now begun, with a comprehensive set of measures in place to serve the victims, who can avail themselves of any component thereof as much as they wish and whenever they feel the need to do so.
Press contacts:
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Elizabeth Jacob +33 6 38 01 30 37
Pauline Reullier +33 6 70 14 30 17