More than 200 participants have already signed up for the Second Annual Encounter, taking place in Rome from 9 to 11 December 2026. Registration closes August 31st
ROME — Registration remains open until August 31st for the Second Annual Encounter on the Prevention of Abuse in Consecrated Life, which will bring together Church leaders, safeguarding professionals and representatives of consecrated life in Rome from 9 to 11 December 2026.
More than 200 participants have already registered for the three-day Encounter, organised by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors under the theme Communion, Care and Justice: Mutual Relations for a Shared Mission.
Bishops, Institutes of Consecrated Life, Societies of Apostolic Life, Conferences and Unions of Major Superiors, representatives of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, safeguarding professionals and other ecclesial collaborators are encouraged to register.
The Encounter will take the form of a synodal learning workshop based on the contents of the Commission’s Third Annual Report on Ecclesial Policies and Procedures for Safeguarding. Its central focus will be the importance of mutual relationships as a constitutive dimension of protection within the Church.
A growing international participation
Current registrations reflect a broad geographical representation, with approximately 40 per cent of participants coming from Europe, 35 per cent from Africa and 13 per cent from the Americas.
Participation from Africa has been particularly significant, reflecting the growing engagement of ecclesial communities across the continent. The Commission continues to encourage registrations from Asia, Oceania and other regions that are currently less represented.
Those already registered represent a wide range of ecclesial realities, from smaller diocesan communities to large international congregations. This diversity will allow participants to exchange experiences drawn from different cultural, institutional and pastoral contexts.
Three days of learning and dialogue
The opening day will focus on the Third Annual Report and the relationship between mutual relations and safeguarding. Participants will hear institutional contributions before taking part in learning workshops, roundtables and parallel discussions on areas including General Chapters, Apostolic Visits, formation and collaboration between dioceses and religious institutes.
The second day will examine global alliances and canonical instruments. Sessions will address responsibilities and competencies in safeguarding cases involving consecrated life, as well as procedures for reporting, accompaniment, information sharing and appropriate response.
Working groups will then begin drafting recommendations to be incorporated into a document of Shared Commitments.
On the final day, participants will consolidate the contributions developed throughout the Encounter and jointly prepare the Shared Commitments document. The gathering will conclude with an Audience with the Holy Father, during which the document will be presented to His Holiness.
The preparatory work for the Encounter’s workshops and roundtable discussions is already underway. The growing number and diversity of registrations reflect the collaborative spirit at the heart of the initiative: practical dialogue directed towards tangible commitments for the prevention of abuse and the creation of safer environments throughout consecrated life.
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