Recent revelations have shed light on the troubled past of Abbé Pierre, a revered figure in France and founder of Emmaüs.

A letter written by Abbé Pierre, whose real name was Henri Grouès, has surfaced, revealing that he was sexually abused as a child while attending a boarding school in Lyon.

This letter, part of a 17-page correspondence, was addressed to his novice master and describes the abuse he suffered at the age of seven.

The letter also details how his abusers were eventually caught and expelled.

These revelations come amid a series of allegations against Abbé Pierre, accusing him of sexual violence against women from the 1950s to the 2000s.

In response, an independent commission has been established to investigate how these actions went unchallenged for so long, and the Church has opened its archives for further scrutiny.