Prof. Gabriel DY-LIACCO
Philippines
Psychotherapist and pastoral counsellor
Adult and adolescent psychotherapist and pastoral counsellor for various mental health concerns including of individuals, couples, families and groups, including victims and perpetrators of abuse.
Prof. Gabriel S. Dy-Liacco is the President of the Catholic Safeguarding Institute and an Associate Professor of the School of Counseling of Divine Mercy University (Virginia, USA).
He serves on the scientific advisory board of the Centre for Child Protection of the Pontifical Gregorian University as well as on the editorial boards of several mental health journals. He has maintained a professional psychotherapy practice since 2000 in which he treats a wide range of mental health and life issues and has been treating primarily priests and religious since 2006. He provides organizational consulting services for dioceses, religious orders, seminaries, and Catholic educational institutions, and conducts safeguarding formation workshops for diocesan and religious leadership and personnel.
On December 17, 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prof. Dy-Liacco to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and this appointment was reconfirmed in February 2018.
Gabby has been married for 21 years and he and his wife, Tammy, have five children ages 6 to 20 (four boys and one girl – the eldest).
Tonga-Niue diocese finalises locally grounded safeguarding framework
TONGA — The Catholic Diocese of Tonga and Niue is finalising a comprehensive safeguarding policy and protocol suite developed through the Universal Guidelines Framework (UGF) pilot programme and subsequent local diocesan work. The new suite brings together a...
From Policy to Practice: Why Safeguarding Must Change How the Church Lives
VATICAN CITY — In this month’s episode of Inside Safeguarding, William Roberts sits down with Commission member Teresa Devlin, head of the Universal Guidelines Framework initiative. After more than 15 years working in child safeguarding within the Catholic Church,...
Accompanying the Churches of central and Eastern Europe: commission presents its safeguarding priorities
GAMING, AUSTRIA - On 28 January, representatives of Catholic aid agencies gathered at the invitation of the Subcommittee on Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). During the meeting, the Regional...
Pope Leo XIV Urges Global Action as Catholic partners convene on “From Crisis to Care” Initiative
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV has renewed the Church’s urgent call to defend the rights and dignity of the world’s most vulnerable children, praising the global Catholic initiative From Crisis to Care: Catholic Action for Children while warning that...
Caritas India strengthens safeguarding through learning visit in Mumbai
MUMBAI — Caritas India strengthened its safeguarding efforts through a two-day learning and exposure visit held in Mumbai on 5–6 December, bringing together members of its Internal Committee with leading practitioners from the Church and social service sectors. The...
Commission leads Safeguarding Formation to Support Curia Colleagues
VATICAN CITY - A new training programme focused on workplace wellbeing and emotional safety has been launched for staff of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (DIVCSVA), following a formal request from the...
Cape Verde Capuchin Custody gathers for safeguarding formation and draft guidelines
MINDELO, CAPE VERDE - From 13 to 17 January 2026, the Capuchin Custody in Cape Verde gathered at the Domus Ordinis on the island of São Vicente for its annual week of ongoing formation, this year focused on the care of minors and vulnerable persons. The...
Pope Leo XIV urges bishops to listen to survivors, calling abuse crisis a deep wound in the Church
VATICAN CITY — On 10 January Pope Leo XIV addressed the Cardinals gathered in Consistory and renewed a forceful call for a culture of listening within the Church, saying the sexual abuse crisis remains “a real wound” and that many victims have suffered further harm...
Upcoming European safeguarding webinar to examine high-risk case management
VATICAN CITY — The Commission will host a European-focused webinar later this month examining one of the most complex and sensitive areas of safeguarding practice: the management of high-risk cases involving reassignment and restrictions on the exercise of ministry....
Bishop Ali on The Year Ahead and the Long-haul of Culture Change
The latest episode of the Commission’s Inside Safeguarding Podcast is an extended conversation with Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Bishop Luis Manuel Ali Herrera, a figure recognised for clear teaching on the pastoral imperative...