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).
press relase – Plenary Assembly plans next phase of Commission’s work
Implications of the Commission’s new statutes • Survivor engagement and the Annual Report • Digital Safeguarding in Church environments and online child protection • Understanding vulnerability and strengthening prevention • Safeguarding and consecrated life VATICAN...
President Verny opens the Commission’s Autumn Plenary Assembly
Opening address by Commission President Mons. Thibault Verny at the Autumn Plenary Assembly, held at Palazzo Maffei Marescotti in Rome from 28 September to 2 October 2026. I am delighted to open our Plenary Assembly by welcoming you all and thanking you for being...
Commission Secretary Mons. Alí Herrera Sheds Light on Latin America Memoranda of understanding
VATICAN CITY — The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is expanding its cooperation with episcopal conferences and regional Church organisations across Latin America to help local Churches develop sustainable safeguarding structures. Earlier this month,...
REPARA: Learning from the Magisterium of Survivors
During a visit to REPARA on 19 September, Bishop Alí Herrera, Secretary and Juan Carlos Cruz, member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, met Lidia Troya, Coordinator of the Archdiocese of Madrid's centre for the support of people affected by...
Bishop Alí: An abuse facilitated, amplified or generated through technological means is a real abuse, with real victims and real suffering.
Madrid, 18 September 2026 - The growing impact of artificial intelligence on the lives of children and young people was at the centre of discussions during the IX Encuentro de Oficinas de Protección de Menores, (September 18 – 19) organised by the Spanish Bishops'...
Formation expands across Africa through workshops in Kenya and Zimbabwe
MOMBASA, Kenya — Safeguarding formation took centre stage in two recent gatherings in Africa, bringing seminarians, formators and religious sisters together to strengthen prevention and safer pastoral environments across the Church. In Mombasa, 50 seminarians...
Philippine bishops advance next phase of child protection work
OZAMIZ, Philippines — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has taken a further step toward strengthening safeguarding across the country, building on months of dialogue with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and...
In Historic First Commission Joins Latin America Safeguarding Network
BRASÍLIA — In a landmark first for the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, it participated in the fourth meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean Network for a Culture of Care, joining more than 100 safeguarding representatives from 17...
Safeguarding at the Heart of Governance: Commission Joins CASILEP Conference in Nairobi
NAIROBI — The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors contributed to a continental gathering of Catholic religious working in canon and civil law in Nairobi, highlighting the relationship between safeguarding, governance and the protection of human dignity...
AMECEA Highlights Safeguarding in Its Synodal Journey With Young People
NAIROBI — More than 140 Catholic bishops from across Eastern Africa gathered in Nairobi for the 21st Plenary Assembly of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), with young people and their role in the life of the Church at...