Overview
- The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors released its second annual report on October 16, the first since Pope Leo XIV’s election, increasing pressure on the Vatican and local churches to act.
- Forty survivors described denial, rejection and reprisals by church authorities, including pressure to retract complaints and even public excommunication after reporting abuse.
- Italy is singled out for deep cultural resistance and poor cooperation, with only 81 of 226 dioceses responding to the commission’s inquiry, while parts of Africa lack clear protocols and accountability.
- The commission urges stronger prevention and oversight, asking the Dicastery for Evangelization to devote more resources and to scrutinize safeguarding records when vetting prospective bishops.
- In the Americas, the report flags overreliance on monetary payouts, resource gaps in parts of Latin America, special risks for deaf children and grooming, and notes initiatives such as Memorare and public acknowledgments like Chile’s Renato Poblete case.