New statutes for Vatican commission leading ‘great work’ of safeguarding

Pope Leo told a group of safeguarding professionals that the task of preventing abuse and caring for those who suffer it ‘is a mandate for everyone in the Church’.

The Holy See published revised statutes for the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

The statutes, published on Saturday, received Pope Leo’s approval on 20 May and came into effect ad experimentum for three years, replacing the statutes of the commission’s foundation in 2014.

They bring its structure into line with the reforms of the Roman Curia in the 2022 apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium.

“The statutes mark an important step in deepening our shared responsibility to protect and care for the most vulnerable,” said the commission’s president Archbishop Thibault Verny of Chambéry.

“They reflect listening, to victims and survivors, to safeguarding experts and to the experience of local Churches, and reaffirm that safeguarding remains a central priority.”

Besides confirming the commission’s competence in providing safeguarding advice to the Pope and assisting local churches and religious orders in conforming with guidelines, the statutes clarify its relationship with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

They establish its role advising the dicastery in “areas of common interest”, which include the sharing of information for the preparation of the commission’s annual report and for meetings with local bishops during ad limina visits to Rome.

Either the president or secretary of the commission is a nominated member of the dicastery, while the prefect may nominate observers to its plenary meetings.

“The statutes describe the commission’s role as one of guidance rather than governance, supporting the Universal Church through the promotion of local responsibility alongside the other dicasteries’ competencies,” said a statement following their publication.

It said that the revision process began after the publication of Praedicate Evangelium in 2022, with a final draft approved in May 2025 by the commission’s former president Cardinal Sean O’Malley OFM Cap.

On Tuesday, the commission concluded a two-day meeting in Rome with the leadership of the international campaign group End Clergy Abuse (ECA), “launching a structured dialogue on safeguarding, victim/survivor engagement, and strengthening protection measures across the Catholic Church”, according to a statement.

“Discussions focused on victims’ rights, institutional responsibility, justice and mandatory safeguarding principles grounded in lived experience,” it said.

“Participants explored how victim/survivor insights can better inform policy, reporting, and practice, while reinforcing a culture of transparency and accountability across Church structures.”

The ECA representatives called for the Church to adopt “a universal zero-tolerance canon law on clergy abuse”, requiring the permanent removal from ministry of Church personnel found to have committed abuse.

Pope Leo held a meeting with members of ECA in October, disucssing its “Zero Tolerance Initiative”, where he proposed the group begin a formal dialogue with the commission.

On Wednesday, the Pope told a group of safeguarding professionals from Latin America that the task of preventing abuse and caring for those who suffer it “is a mandate for everyone in the Church”.

“The encounter with Christ leaves a positive mark on us and leads us towards a life full of love and freedom, whereas the exact opposite occurs in situations of abuse, causing traumatic wounds that hinder and undermine a person’s spiritual and human development,” he said during an audience with the Centre for Research and Training in Child Protection.

“I thank you and, at the same time, encourage you to continue with this great work, strengthening the collaboration networks between local Churches and civil institutions, and promoting a culture of prevention and care for the most vulnerable.”

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