Safeguarding must be woven into Church life across the globe – Pope Francis
5961 Min Read
There is a continuing need for the culture and mission of Safeguarding to be systemically embedded into the life of the Church across the globe.
In this regard, the Pontifical Commission is engaged in three specific Working Groups: Working with Survivors, Formation and Education, and Safeguarding Guidelines and Norms.
The work of the Commission with survivors continues, through a variety of strategies, to develop platforms for the Church to listen to the voices of people who have been abused, and to work toward integrating the voices of victims and survivors into the life and mission of the Church.
Members continue to offer formation and education in a variety of ways and throughout the world in response to requests from Episcopal Conferences, individual dioceses, Institutes for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and Ecclesial Movements and Associations.
Work on Safeguarding Guidelines and Norms for the Promotion of the Protection of Children has led to several initiatives. These include the development and ongoing refinement of an audit tool. Also, following recent legislation, special attention has been given to the emerging significance and definition of “vulnerable adult”.
In view of this particular moment in the Church’s history and the forthcoming 30th anniversary of the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors renews its unwavering commitment to contribute to a world that is safe for children and vulnerable persons.
