"Tutela Minorum" consults on child protection measures.Celso Morga: "We are committed to eradicating child abuse".The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, presided over by Cardinal Sean O'Malley, was constituted by Pope Francis on March 22, 2014 and, as of June 5, 2022, is part of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
In its this morning's speechread by Archbishop Pierluigi Giroli, the Pope recalled that dedicating oneself to "attending to the needs of the poor and the needy". victims of abuse is a courageous vocation, which is born from the heart of the Church and helps it to purify itself and to grow".
Francis also encouraged the members of the Commission to "continue in this service, in a team spirit: building bridges and collaborating so that your attention to others may be more effective".
The Holy Father also referred to the Annual Report on Safeguarding Policies and Procedures in the Church, which gathers the conclusions of a survey sent to all the bishops' conferences of the world, recalling that "it should not be just another document, but help us to better understand the work that still lies ahead of us."
On the other hand, Francis indicated that "in the face of the scandal of abuse and the suffering of the victims, we can become discouraged, because the challenge of rebuilding the fabric of broken lives and healing the pain is great and complex". However, "our commitment must not falter; indeed, I encourage you to continue to move forward, so that the Church may always and everywhere be a place where everyone can feel at home and every person is considered sacred."
Imitating Jesus
The Pope pointed out that, to achieve this goal and "to live this service well, we must make our own the sentiments of Christ: his compassion, his way of touching the wounds of humanity, his Heart pierced with love for us. Jesus is the One who made himself close to us; in his flesh, God the Father drew near to us beyond all limits and, in this way, shows us that he is not far from our needs and concerns.
Because Jesus "takes upon himself our sufferings and bears our wounds, as stated in the fourth poem of the Suffering Servant in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah". Francis invited us to imitate Christ's example: "Let us also learn this: we cannot help others to carry their burdens without putting them on our shoulders, without practicing closeness and compassion.
Therefore, "closeness to the victims of abuse is not an abstract concept: it is a very concrete reality, made up of listening, intervention, prevention and help. We are all called - especially the ecclesiastical authorities - to know directly the impact of abuse and to allow ourselves to be moved by the suffering of the victims, listening directly to their voice and practicing that closeness which, through concrete choices, lifts them up, helps them and prepares a different future for everyone."
Moreover, the Holy Father stressed that it is important to avoid "that these brothers and sisters are not welcomed and listened to, because this can greatly aggravate their suffering. It is necessary to take care of them with a personal commitment, just as it is necessary that this be carried out with the help of competent collaborators."
At the same time, the Pope thanked the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors for its work in "accompanying victims and survivors. Much of this service is carried out in a confidential manner, as it should be out of respect for individuals. But, at the same time, its fruits must be made visible: people must know and see the work you do in accompanying the pastoral care of the local churches. Your closeness to the authorities of the local Churches will strengthen them when it comes to sharing good practices and verifying the adequacy of the measures that have been put in place".
"Memorare", preventing and repairing abuses
Francis also recalled the "Memorare" initiative, defined by Vatican News as "a project of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors that began in 2023 to assist and work, together with local churches around the world, in formation and training in prevention and protection of children and vulnerable adults. This assistance focuses on three areas: the accompaniment of victims and survivors, the implementation of prevention policies through the development of guidelines and codes of conduct, and the appropriate and timely response to any allegations of abuse in accordance with Church law".
In his address this morning, the Pope said that "service to the local churches is already bearing great fruit and I am encouraged to see how the 'Memorare' initiative is taking shape, in cooperation with the churches in so many countries around the world. This is a very concrete way for the commission to show its closeness to the authorities of these churches, while at the same time strengthening existing preservation efforts. Over time, this will create a network of solidarity with the victims and with those who promote their rights, especially where resources and expertise are scarce."
In closing, the Pope indicated that the Commission's comments "will move us in the right direction, so that the Church will continue to commit herself with all her strength to the prevention of abuse, to her firm condemnation of abuse, to the compassionate care of victims and to the ongoing commitment to be a hospitable and safe place," and he thanked the "perseverance" and "the witness of hope" that the members of the commission offer. As usual, the Pope concluded his speech by asking for prayers for him.
