|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
XV Ordinary Plenary Assembly
Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
|
|
|
|
|
The XV ordinary Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors took place in Rome and online from April 19-22, 2021.
|
|
|
|
Extension of terms and welcoming a new member
|
|
The meeting opened with appreciation of the Holy Father’s extension of members terms of office for another year and a warm welcome for Mr. Juan Carlos Cruz, taking part in his first meeting since his appointment by Pope Francis on March 24th.
|
|
|
Greeting the Commission members, Mr. Cruz said he hoped his presence and contribution will bring renewed impulse to the Churches’ commitment to hearing, welcoming, assisting and accompanying the children, men and women who have been abused and in creating a space for them in the life of the Church.
|
The first quarter of 2021 has provided a series of opportunities for the Commission to work with local churches and safeguarding partners around the world in promoting local responsibility for the protection of children and vulnerable adults in fulfillment of the Commission’s mandate from the Holy Father’s Chirograph of 2014.
|
|
Members were active in a number of educational initiatives, academic projects, publications and sponsored events. These included:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding initiatives for the remainder of the year include:
|
- In June, an academic seminar organised by the Working with Survivors Group on the theme the “Enculturation of Outreach and Healing” for people who have been abused, their families and communities. Broken down into three sessions, the seminar will explore the clinical, pastoral and juridical implications of listening to victims and survivors in different cultural contexts, informed by the experiences of victims and survivors drawn from local Survivor Advisory Panels (SAPs).
- A September Conference in Warsaw, Poland, for Church Leadership in Central and Eastern Europe, titled “Our Common Mission of safeguarding God’s Children” organised by the Education and Formation Working Group in partnership with the Polish Bishops Conference. Over four days Commission members will meet and dialogue with bishops, religious and lay leaders from Latin and Eastern Rite churches in the region to understand the needs and challenges they face in the promotion of strategies to prevent and heal those wounded by clerical child sexual abuse.
|
|
|
Looking ahead: a critical juncture for Safeguarding and the Church
|
The Plenary Assembly also addressed the realities, challenges, and critical directions for the Commission, Safeguarding, and the Church in light of the many developments in the area since the Commission’s establishment in 2014.
|
Members did so through a series of constructive meetings with offices of the Roman Curia. The Commission members would like to thank the Prefects, officials and staff at the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for Catholic Education, the Dicasteries for Laity, Family and Life and Integral Human Development, the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.
|
Members also thank the International Union of Superiors General and the Union of Superiors General, for their continued cooperation and dedication to the wellbeing of all children and vulnerable people.
|
|
|
|
  
|
Also during the global Covid-19 pandemic, the Commission has set a goal to boost its online presence and visibility and to engage with safeguarding partners committed to promoting child dignity online and contrasting the growing scourge of child online exploitation.
|
The new www.tutelaminorum.org website and digital platform (@TutelaMinorum) was launched in English in February 2021. Analytics from traffic to the site and feedback from the Tutela Minorum Safeguarding Community help identify strengths and weaknesses in global safeguarding efforts. The platform has so far registered highest user traffic and interaction in the Outreach and Safeguarding resource section with peaks in traffic for spiritual and pastoral assistance to victims and survivors of abuse. The roll out in Spanish and Italian is scheduled for late Spring 2021.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The XV ordinary plenary assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors concluded an expression of profound appreciation for the work and dedication of the outgoing Secretary Mons. Robert Oliver, who returns to the United States later this year after a decade of service to the Church in the Holy See.
|
|
|
|
Safeguarding Training Strengthens Myanmar Church Capacity Amid Ongoing Crisis
|
|
|
|
YANGON, Myanmar — In a national context marked by conflict, displacement, natural disaster and ongoing humanitarian pressure, the Catholic Church in Myanmar has taken another step in strengthening its safeguarding work through a five-session Training of Trainers for diocesan safeguarding focal persons. The online programme, held from 20–25 April 2026, was delivered in close partnership between the Pontifical Commission for …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commission Marks Day of the African Child with Online Forum on Children's Rights
|
|
|
|
VATICAN CITY — An online forum organised by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors brought together participants from across Africa and international partners on 16 June to mark the International Day of the African Child (DAC), this year coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising. The event was organised by Br. Fortune Chakasara, Regional Safeguarding Expert …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
commission attends global gathering of women religious in tanzania
|
|
|
|
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors took part in two sessions at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation's Catholic Sisters Initiative Convening in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 12 June, contributing to international discussions on safeguarding culture and presenting original research conducted in partnership with two leading organisations of women religious. The convening, held …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and Ending Clergy Abuse
|
|
|
|
Strong focus on the lived experience of victims and survivors in pursuit of truth, justice and reparation Presentation of the work of the Commission and the new Statutes Discussion of zero-tolerance of clerical child sexual abuse Commitment to expand protection to persons in situations of vulnerability and strengthen victim/survivor support mechanisms Agreement on closer collaboration and concrete next steps ROME …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMMISSION JOINS GLOBAL SUMMIT FOSTERING HOPE FOR CHILDREN 2026
|
|
|
|
ROME – Commission staff members joined the Global Summit 2026: Fostering Hope for Children, held from 3 to 5 June, contributing to wide-ranging international discussions on child protection, research and faith-based collaboration. Emer McCarthy and Serena Viti attended the summit on behalf of the Commission's Online Abuse Study Group (OASG). The Summit was convened by the Society for Global Flourishing …
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vatican gives Commission new Statutes, Pope approves three year trial
|
|
|
|
VATICAN CITY — The Holy See today published the revised Statutes of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, updating the body's mandate, structure and working methods more than a decade after its founding document was first issued.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Safeguarding Training Strengthens Myanmar Church Capacity Amid Ongoing Crisis
|
|
|
|
YANGON, Myanmar — In a national context marked by conflict, displacement, natural disaster and ongoing humanitarian pressure, the Catholic Church in Myanmar has taken another step in strengthening its safeguarding work through a five-session Training of Trainers for diocesan safeguarding focal persons. The online programme, held from 20–25 April 2026, was delivered in close partnership between the Pontifical Commission for the …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From Aid to Ownership: Reimagining Child Protection Systems in Africa
|
|
|
|
Cape Town — The reduction of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding for child-focused programmes in parts of Africa has prompted renewed reflection on the sustainability of services supporting children and vulnerable adults. For decades, USAID has been a central development partner in sectors such as maternal and child health, immunisation, nutrition, education and child protection, particularly in contexts affected by …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pallottines Unite Around a Common Mission: Caring for Children Means Protecting Them
|
|
|
|
KONSTANCIN-JEZIORNA, Poland — Some 40 representatives from 18 countries gathered near Warsaw from May 12–17 for an international meeting of Pallottine Coordinators of the Apostolate for Children, organized by the General Secretariat for the Apostolate of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate. Held at the Centre for Apostolate and Mission in Konstancin-Jeziorna under the theme "Children – Our Future and Responsibility," the meeting brought …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Countdown to Third Annual Report Begins in Synodal Dialogue with the Church in the Philippines
|
|
|
|
MANILA — The countdown to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors’ Third Annual Report begins in the Philippines, where a working visit has brought renewed momentum to safeguarding efforts in the local Church. From 30 April to 1 May, the Commission and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines convened bishops, religious leaders and safeguarding partners to advance …
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
