Pope Leo (Credit: AFP)
Pope Leo initiates first measure against Catholic abuse scandals
On Saturday, Pope Leo took a significant step in addressing the Catholic Church’s ongoing sexual abuse crisis by naming French Archbishop Thibault Verny as the new president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
Verny, 59, will lead the Vatican commission while continuing his duties as Archbishop of Chambery in southeastern France. The commission was established by Pope Francis in 2014 as part of the Church’s response to widespread sexual abuse scandals affecting dioceses across the globe.
These scandals have inflicted lasting damage on the Church’s reputation, triggered costly lawsuits internationally, and resulted in the resignation of numerous bishops. Verny expressed his commitment to strengthening safeguarding efforts within the Church.
“We will promote the ... equitable sharing of resources so that all parts of the Church, regardless of geography or circumstance, can uphold the highest standards of protection,” he stated.
Archbishop Verny succeeds Cardinal Sean O'Malley, the former Archbishop of Boston, who had served as commission president since its inception but had continued past the traditional retirement age of 80 for bishops.
O’Malley, 81, welcomed Verny’s appointment, calling him “a collaborative leader committed to advancing the global adoption of protection and safeguarding, to as best possible assure the safety of those in the care of the Church throughout the world.”
Though the commission has been praised by some abuse survivors for its work, it has faced internal challenges, including several member resignations. In 2023, a prominent Jesuit priest and papal adviser publicly resigned over concerns about the commission’s operations.
Verny first joined the commission in 2022 and has been active in leading safeguarding initiatives within the French Church, bringing valuable experience to his new role at the Vatican.