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 the protection of minors and vulnerable persons.

The Philippines will feature prominently in this year’s Annual Report on Church Policies and Proceedures for Safeguarding, which tracks the efforts, progress and remaining gaps in the protection of children and people in situations of vulnerability across the glocal Church on a yearly basis.

The visit is part of the Commission’s wider synodal engagement with local Churches and religious entities worldwide, with discussions guided by the Instrumentum Laboris, the draft document shaping reflection on safeguarding priorities.

On 30 April, representatives of the Commission met with the Presidency of the CBCP and the CBCP Office for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons for a full day of discussions focused on the text of the Instrumentum Laboris, which outlines the safeguarding strengths, challenges and implementation priorities in the Philippine context.

Topics included formation, resourcing, accompaniment of victims and survivors, and coordination between dioceses, religious congregations and lay collaborators. Participants also reflected on cultural realities that can shape how harm is disclosed and how support is sought within communities, emphasising the importance of listening and local accompaniment in safeguarding work.  

The following day, the Commission continued meetings in Manila with religious leaders and safeguarding partners working across the country. The conversations expanded the dialogue beyond episcopal leadership to include those directly involved in safeguarding ministry and implementation at the local level.

During the visit, members of the Commission also held a courtesy meeting with the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, reflecting the shared responsibility of both the universal and local Church in the protection of minors and vulnerable persons.  

The discussions in Manila around the Annual Report’s findings are expected to inform the CBCP’s July Plenary Assembly and a national safeguarding policy workshop scheduled for October.

The Commission and the CBCP described the process as part of a continuing effort to strengthen safeguarding through collaboration, formation and ongoing dialogue within the life of the Church. The Commission expressed gratitude to the leadership of the CBCP, the Office for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons, and the religious and lay safeguarding partners who participated in the meetings.