VATICAN CITY — The Commission is preparing the second edition of its annual encounter dedicated to abuse prevention in consecrated life. Titled “Called to Communion, Care, and Justice: Mutual Relations for a Shared Mission”, the event will take place over three days from 9 to 11 December 2026, in Rome. Registration will open in March. The exact venue will be confirmed later in the year. 

Building on the Third Annual Report 

The encounter draws its thematic and methodological foundation from the Annual Report on Church Policies and Procedures for Safeguarding, the Commission’s institutional tool for collecting and analysing safeguarding data and good practices from across the Universal Church. The Third Annual Report, scheduled for publication in October 2026, places particular attention on the challenges and opportunities specific to consecrated life. Its findings will inform and shape the work of the December gathering, while the encounter itself will launch the synodal process for the Fourth Annual Report, planned for October 2027. 

A Synodal Space for Learning and Collaboration 

Conceived as a results-oriented learning lab, the encounter will bring together institutes of consecrated life, bishops, and key ecclesial actors in a synodal and practical working environment. Participants will explore key lessons from the Commission’s Annual Reports, promote the sharing of good practices, and develop realistic actionable recommendations for strengthening a culture of safeguarding and justice within consecrated life. 

Continuity and Openness 

Participation will be intentionally structured to ensure both continuity and new engagement. Institutes that have already journeyed with the Commission through the Annual Report process will be present alongside other institutes now engaging with the Annual Report methodology for the first time. The encounter will include spaces for sharing experiences and exchanging insights on vulnerability, as well as workshops, designed to promote reflection. 

Through this approach, the Commission aims to advance both practical and cultural conversion in abuse prevention within consecrated life, reinforcing a shared mission of care, justice, and communion.