Pope Leo XIV Meets with Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors

VATICAN CITY, 5 June, 2025 — Pope Leo XIV met with members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors on Thursday morning at the Vatican. During the meeting, he reiterated the Church’s commitment to safeguarding minors and vulnerable individuals from abuse. The Pope emphasized the need for direct communication, urging the Commission to continue reporting directly to him as part of broader efforts to strengthen accountability within the Church.

The meeting took place within the framework of reforms initiated by Pope Francis, who had integrated the Commission into the Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. The late pontiff had reminded the Commission that it retains independence to do what is most important to help in the fight against clerical sexual abuse and told members to report directly to him.

During the meeting, Pope Leo XIV appealed to the Commission to continue this direct communication with him, in order to ensure maximum efforts are made to protect minors and the vulnerable, in all respects.

The Church has taken significant steps to address cases of abuse, including the establishment of their Commission, the updating of canon law and other instruments that provide mechanisms for reporting abuse and misconduct by bishops, the obligation of mandatory reporting to civil authorities in certain jurisdictions, and a growing body of national guidelines and safeguarding protocols. But even so, the Commission noted that more needs to be done on various levels.

The Pontifical Commission was originally established by Pope Francis to confront abuse committed by clerics and enhance prevention measures. Over the years, its responsibilities have grown to include producing an Annual Report evaluating the Church’s safeguarding practices across the globe and identifying areas for improvement.

The latest report, covering the 2023 calendar year, was produced by the Commission on 29 October 2024. It examines the situation of various local Churches and continents, the Roman Curia's effectiveness in safeguarding, how the Church aids society to safeguard, and how the Commission offers a tool of accountability and transparency.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Courtesy: Vatican News