Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors

The Latest

Pope Leo XIV prays during a Mass at Sant’Anselmo Church, located at a Benedictine monastery on the Aventine Hill in Rome, on Nov. 11, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV holds protection of minors ‘deep in his heart’

Nov 17, 2025

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Pope Leo XIV sent a message to participants in the meeting for “Building Communities that Protect Dignity,” promoted by the... Read more

Bishop Luis Manuel Alí Herrera, the secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, addresses media during a press conference releasing the commission’s second annual report on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in Rome.

In second report, Vatican minor commission urges listening, reparations for abuse victims

Oct 16, 2025

By Kristina Millare

Archbishop Thibault Verny of Chambéry spoke of the report’s efforts to emphasize the significance of “walking alongside victims and survivors.” Read more

Speaking to over 400 bishops from 38 countries on June 25, 2025, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of pastoral prudence, poverty, and synodality in the ministry of a bishop.

Pope Leo XIV appoints new president to lead Vatican’s child safeguarding commission

Jul 5, 2025

By Kristina Millare

The prelate succeeds U.S.-born Cardinal Seán O’Malley, 81, the founding president of the safeguarding commission established by Pope Francis in... Read more

Auxiliary Bishop Luis Manuel Alí Herrera is secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

Vatican secretary for protection of minors: ‘Harming a victim is harming the image of God’

Jun 23, 2025

By Diego López Marina

Bishop Luis Manuel Alí Herrera contends that instead of a single reparative action, victims of abuse require “an in-depth process... Read more

Pope Francis joins the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in prayer at the Vatican on March 7, 2024.

Pope Francis: When you protect children from abuse ‘you serve and honor Christ’

Mar 25, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

“Abuse prevention,” the Holy Father said, “is not a blanket to be spread over emergencies but one of the foundations... Read more

Pope Francis meets with members of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) on March 23, 2023.

Vatican, Catholic leaders from Europe discuss sexual abuse in the Church

Nov 13, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is hosting a conference on safeguarding in the Catholic Church in... Read more

Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley attends a press conference to present the first report of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors on Oct. 29, 2024, at the Vatican.

Cardinal O’Malley: Church acknowledges damage of abuse but ‘celibacy is not the cause’

Oct 29, 2024

By Kristina Millare

Cardinal Seán O’Malley stated that he has “never seen any serious studies that have indicated that celibacy and sexual abuse... Read more

Pope Francis joines the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in prayer at the Vatican on March 7, 2024.

Vatican publishes first report on Church safeguarding efforts worldwide

Oct 29, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The 50-page report by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors is the first in an annual series that... Read more

A Colombian psychologist bishop and a retired colonel from the Illinois State Police are the new secretaries of the Pontifical Commission for the Guardianship of Minors.

Pope Francis names U.S. police professional, Colombian bishop to minor protection commission

Mar 15, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Pope Francis on Friday made two appointments to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.  Read more

Pope Francis joines the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in prayer at the Vatican on March 7, 2024.

Pope Francis to clergy abuse commission: ‘Our commitment must not wane’

Mar 7, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

“I encourage you to move forward so that the Church will be, always and everywhere, a place where everyone can... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in an audience May 5, 2023.

Pope Francis invites child protection group to have ‘a spirituality of reparation’

May 5, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“The sexual abuse of minors by clergy and its poor handling by Church leaders has been one of the greatest... Read more

Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston.

Cardinal O’Malley ‘surprised, disappointed’ by abuse expert’s criticism of Vatican commission

Mar 30, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Cardinal Sean O’Malley said Thursday he strongly disagrees with a critique of the Vatican’s safeguarding commission by Father Hans Zollner. Read more

Father Hans Zollner.

Abuse expert leaves Vatican commission for protection of minors, citing concerns

Mar 29, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Father Hans Zollner said in a statement March 29 that “structural and practical issues” within the commission had led him... Read more

Father Andrew Small, O.M.I.

The Church must do more for survivors of sexual abuse, Vatican official says

Jul 22, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The Church must do more for anyone affected by sexual abuse, “even when the Church can appear tarnished because of... Read more

Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston.

Cardinal O’Malley urges Italian Catholic bishops to ‘make things right’ for abuse survivors

May 26, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

‘We have nothing to fear by telling the truth,’ said the head of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of... Read more

Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors president Cardinal Seán O’Malley, left, attends a press conference near the Vatican, April 29, 2022.

Cardinal O’Malley defends the independence of the Vatican’s safeguarding commission

Apr 29, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The Boston archbishop said that Pope Francis ‘has assured us that … the commission will be independent.’ Read more

Pope Francis meets members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors at the Vatican, April 29, 2022.

Pope Francis asks for annual report on Church’s efforts to prevent abuse

Apr 29, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The pontiff was addressing the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Read more

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Pope Francis wants seminarians to read this letter from a clerical abuse survivor

Oct 20, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The letter urges them to ‘Please be a good priest.’ Read more

Fernando Karadima

Fernando Karadima, former priest whose sex abuse scandal rocked Chile, dead at 90

Jul 26, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Fernando Karadima, an influential former priest in Chile whose sexual abuse of minors prompted major questions about episcopal cover-ups, has... Read more

Fr. Andrew Small, O.M.I.

Pope Francis names new secretary of Vatican safeguarding commission

Jun 22, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Fr. Andrew Small succeeds Msgr. Robert Oliver as secretary for the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Read more