Cardinal Seán O’MALLEY
United States
Archbishop of Boston, President of the Commission, member of the Council of Cardinals that advises Pope Francis.
Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., was professed as a Capuchin Franciscan in 1965 and ordained a priest in 1970. He earned a Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese literature from The Catholic University of America, where he taught from 1969 to 1973.
Cardinal O’Malley founded Centro Catolico Hispano (Hispanic Catholic Center), an organization that assists immigrants. He was named bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands in 1985, of the Diocese of Fall River, Mass., in 1992, of Palm Beach, Fla. in 2002 and Archbishop of Boston in 2003. He was created a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in March, 2006.
Cardinal O’Malley serves on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for Pro-Life Activities, the Subcommittee for the Church in Africa and the Subcommittee for the Church in Latin America. Also, Cardinal O’Malley is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University of America. In 2010, Pope Benedict appointed Cardinal O’Malley as Apostolic Visitator for the Archdiocese of Dublin.
Pope Francis appointed Cardinal O’Malley to the Council of Cardinals in 2013, nominated him President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in 2014, and nominated him Member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2017. Cardinal O’Malley was elected Chairman of the Papal Foundation in 2018.
European Church calls for vigilance against safeguarding fatigue
Communications Staff A three-day conference on Safeguarding in the Catholic Church in Europe concluded in Rome Friday with a resounding call for continued vigilance and collaboration in creating a safer Church environment. The November 13 to 15...
The Commission enhancing the European Safeguarding Network
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM) is hosting in November 13-15 a European Conference for Church leaders and safeguarding personnel from across Europe. The purpose of this event is to broaden the European Network started in Warsaw in 2021, to share good practices in the mission of protecting children and vulnerable persons.
Cardinal O’Malley: Suffering of victims and survivors has opened Church’s eyes
At the heart of the Annual Report presented by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, is the recognition of the unjust suffering and the courageous testimonies of victims and survivors, Commission president, Cardinal Sean O’Malley OFM Cap., told...
Commission welcomes Synod working document’s focus on accountability and transparency and calls to include safeguarding in the synodal debates
The Instrumentum Laboris, or working document, of the second session of the Synod of Bishops -- dedicated to the theme: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission – was released this past July. Addressing the challenges that will be discussed at...
Cardinal O’Malley urges ‘pastoral prudence’
Cardinal Sean O’Malley, has written to the dicasteries of the Roman Curia to express the hope that during this time, “pastoral prudence would prevent displaying artwork in a way that could imply either exoneration or a subtle defense”.
Card. O’ Malley on #EndChildAbuseDay: Working together to Break the Silence
The intervention of the President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors at a conference organised by SOS Telefono Azzuro Foundation and the Italian Embassy to the Holy See on the occassion of the European Day to End Child Sexual Abuse and...
Statement from Card. O’ Malley (Update)
Statement from Cardinal Sean O’ Malley OFM Cap., President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors “The Commission has been informed that Father Hans Zollner SJ, has asked to be...
Card. O’ Malley on Vos estis lux mundi update
Statement of Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM. Cap., President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors on the publication of the updated motu proprio Vos estis lux mundi. The Church’s ongoing work of preventing sexual abuse by ministers of the Church...
Card. O’ Malley on Importance of Portugese Report
The Independent Commission for the Study of Sexual Abuse of Children in the Catholic Church in Portugal, released its final report this week. Established by the Portuguese Episcopal Conference in November 2021, the Independent Commission carried out a study on sexual...
Card. O’ Malley: An Expanded Commission for an Expanded Mandate
Cardinal Seán O’Malley OFM. Cap., President, on the Appointment by Pope Francis of Members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors Today’s announcement by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, of members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of...
Card O’ Malley: A watershed moment for Commission
The 17th Ordinary Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors concluded with a clear mandate from Pope Francis. Below Commission President Cardinal O' Malley's statement to press. "On behalf of the commission I would like to welcome you...
Card. O’ Malley on EU Day against Child Sexual Abuse
“We cannot repair what we do not recognize. We cannot restore a broken trust if we do not address the heart of the matter. This requires honest investigation, independent inquiry, and informed action.” The President of the Pontifical Commission for the...
Nov. 18: A Global movement to protect children
On November 18, on the sidelines of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Fall Assembly in Baltimore, Cardinals and World Faith Leaders will join child sexual abuse survivors for the Pathways to Prevention, Healing, and Justice Inaugural Sunrise Walk. At...
Card. O’ Malley: Verification of Safeguarding policies key factor of accountability
On Thursday November 4, Tutela Minorum President Cardinal Sean O' Malley addressed participants in a study convention presenting the results of Project SAFE. Sponsored by the European Union the project focused on promoting child safeguarding in three Italian...
Letter to Seminarians
The following letter and introduction from the President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is available in the original Italian. In questo tempo di rinnovamento e conversione pastorale in cui la Chiesa affronta lo scandalo e le ferite degli...
Card. O’ Malley’s Address to Churches in Central and Eastern Europe
“Honest assessment of our failures gives the Church the insights needed for the ongoing work of doing all that is possible to prevent further abuse.”