AMONG THE lesser-known official titles of the Pope is that of “Primate of Italy”, a role that gives the Bishop of Rome a particular form of oversight of the Italian Church. While the Pope does not involve himself with the day-to-day running of Italy’s bishops’ conference, he appoints the president and secretary general and can intervene when necessary. 

For this reason, the sight of the Italian bishops lagging behind the world in getting to grips with clerical sexual abuse has become a blot on the credibility of the Church’s efforts in cleaning up the scandals. The leaders of Italy’s 225 dioceses have consistently demonstrated ostrich-like behaviour on child protection. This saw them produce guidelines arguing that bishops had only a “moral” rather than legal duty to report abuse as recently as 2014. Victims and child protection experts shook their heads in dismay and were left asking: how can the Church be serious about tackling abuse if the bishops on the Pope’s doorstep can’t get their house in order?