In a biopic released in 2023, Benjamin Lavernhe played the role of Abbé Pierre. The French actor returned to the affair concerning the founder of Emmaüs in a broadcast of France 2.
For several weeks, testimonies have multiplied, accusing Abbé Pierre of rape and sexual assault. If the alleged victims number in the dozens, many are in shock at the accusations made against the founder of Emmaüs.
“We feel a great betrayal”
This is the case of Benjamin Lavernhe, who played the Catholic priest whose real name is Henri Grouès, in a biopic released in 2023. The actor returned to the affair and spoke on the show Nice Gesture of France 2 broadcast this Sunday.
“Already, I am thinking of the victims. […] We feel a great betrayal, a great sadness.”
Benjamin Lavernhe, who played Abbé Pierre in the cinema, talks about his astonishment after the testimonies of dozens of victims of the founder of Emmaüs.#BeautifulGesture pic.twitter.com/F6tLaRzCpw
— france.tv cinema (@francetvcinema) https://twitter.com/francetvcinema/status/1855552479884390896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“I'm already thinking about the victims, there are 25 testimonies and it's terrible. Obviously, we feel a great betrayal, a great sadness. From astonishment. I'm looking for words, but it's hard to find them. Fear, because somewhere, he was a friend”laments Benjamin Lavernhe in front of the camera France 2.
Although they didn't meet, the French actor was so invested in the role that he felt like “the impression of having known him a little”. After the astonishment or the feeling of betrayal, the questions multiply for the actor.
“How could this guy who did so many extraordinary things behave so badly? And beyond! The duality of the human being, the ambivalence, it's always a shock. And of course Frédéric Tellier and all the teams are devastated. To say to ourselves that we missed that and didn't see it, well, that's what's most terrible. So yes, it’s going to take time to get over it.”
An open file
Without waiting for the deadline of 75 years after his death, the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) opened access to documents relating to accusations of sexual assault committed by Abbot Pierre. Some documents mention “a seriously mentally ill person” and one “loss of all self-control”.
216 pieces in a file which mix printed documents and handwritten letters. A file, open to journalists and researchers, which relates to the knowledge of the facts by certain bishops or even to the concerns of some regarding the growing notoriety of Abbot Pierre in view of the alleged facts.
It was the Conference of Bishops of France (CEF) which opened access to the document in mid-September. “A few bishops at least” were aware “from 1955-1957” of “serious behavior” of Abbot Pierre “towards women” explained the president of the CEF, Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, on September 16.
