As the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors held its annual Ordinary Plenary Assembly from March 24-28, 2025, Pope Francis took the opportunity to once again express his gratitude for the “precious service” the Commission provides to the Church. In a message addressed to participants, the Pope described the Commission’s work as “like ‘oxygen’ for local Churches and religious communities, because wherever a child or vulnerable person is safe, there you serve and honour Christ.”
The Commission, established in 2014, is tasked with advising the Holy Father on the protection of minors and developing policies to prevent sexual abuse within Church institutions. It works in collaboration with Vatican offices and local bishops’ conferences to ensure that effective measures are in place to safeguard the vulnerable. As an independent body of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which oversees disciplinary actions regarding abuse cases, the Commission offers recommendations on best practices, supports outreach efforts for survivors, and promotes accountability within the Church.
In his message, Pope Francis emphasized that the mission of the Commission must go beyond simply applying protocols. He explained that abuse prevention “is not a blanket to be spread over emergencies, but one of the foundations on which to build communities faithful to the Gospel.” This statement underscores the importance of ongoing work to foster environments of safety and healing for the most vulnerable within the Church.
Pope Francis further remarked that the Commission’s mission “cannot be reduced to the mere application of protocols” but must focus on advocating for safeguards that integrate education, prevention, and listening to heal. By establishing prevention policies, even in the most remote communities, he said, the Commission ensures that “every child, every vulnerable person, will find a safe environment in the ecclesial community.” He called this a promise that the Church must make, reflecting a collective commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable individuals.
In addition to expressing his gratitude for the work already done, Pope Francis outlined three key commitments he believes are necessary to make the Commission’s efforts more effective. First, he called for increased collaboration between the Commission and the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, stressing that “systemic cooperation is essential to address the scourge of sexual abuse in the Church.”
Second, the Pope encouraged the Commission to offer “hospitality and care for the spiritual wounds of victims and survivors, in the style of the Good Samaritan,” a style that fosters genuine healing through mercy rather than being bogged down by bureaucratic procedures. The Pope emphasized that true healing requires compassion and understanding of the deep pain experienced by survivors.
Lastly, Pope Francis urged the Commission to build partnerships with entities outside the Church, such as civil authorities, experts, and associations, so that “safeguarding may become a universal language.” These partnerships are essential for creating a broader network of support for vulnerable individuals and for ensuring that safeguarding becomes a global priority.
Despite the progress made over the past decade in building a safety network within the Church, Pope Francis reminded the Commission of the critical importance of listening to the pain of survivors. He warned against “the temptation to dismiss grief instead of healing it,” urging members to avoid minimizing the lasting trauma survivors face. As he concluded his message, the Pope shared a prayerful sentiment: “May the Holy Spirit, teacher of living memory, preserve us from the temptation to dismiss grief instead of healing it.”
Pope Francis’ words of encouragement, delivered on March 20, 2025, before his discharge from Gemelli Hospital, reflect his deep commitment to protecting the vulnerable within the Church and ensuring that their voices are heard. He thanked the members of the Commission for their prayerful closeness as he recovers from pneumonia and assured them of his own spiritual accompaniment in their work.
This message reiterates the importance of the Church’s mission to safeguard its members, especially the most vulnerable, and to work tirelessly to provide healing and justice for those affected by abuse.
