We left the Pontifical Commission for Minors in a plenary session that established a fund to assist the poorest Episcopal Conferences, which are unable to equip themselves with the necessary tools for the protection of minors. The plenary, held from September 20 to 22, 2023, did not yield significant developments, except for Pope Francis's meeting with an association of victims, LOUDFence. The work continues steadily, with meetings now taking place in the new headquarters at Palazzo Marescotti.

What transpired during the plenary? The results of the global survey on the Universal Guidelines Framework were examined, and the project on the Annual Report regarding Church safeguarding policies and procedures was approved, with plans for its subsequent publication. Discussions also revolved around strengthening the Memorare initiative, a fund aimed at supporting the poorer Episcopal Conferences.

"At the outset of this year," remarked Cardinal Sean O’Malley, President of the Commission, "our Holy Father entrusted the Commission to continue with the safeguarding work that has been assigned to us. This is precisely what the Commission has been engaged in. He underscored the importance of standing by victims in their pain and finding ways to redress the harm inflicted. In our initial year, we launched a global consultation campaign on a comprehensive set of guidelines that the Commission intends to employ in enhancing safeguarding capabilities across the entire Church."

One of the interventions during the plenary was delivered by Bishop Sinayobye of Cyanugu in Rwanda, who discussed the challenges faced by the country many years after the genocide. The Pontifical Commission and Rwanda have signed a memorandum of understanding for safeguarding, and during this plenary, it was revealed that the Central African Republic has also followed suit.

The Commission had initiated a global survey on the universal guidelines framework published in May 2023, receiving over 300 responses and 700 suggestions. While there is time until March 2024 to submit feedback, work has already commenced on the second phase of drafting the Universal Guidelines, which will provide clear criteria for making safeguarding policies and procedures effective. These guidelines are divided into 10 principles, each featuring 5 to 7 guidelines that outline the required competencies in each diocese for successful implementation.

This topic was also discussed during the ad limina visits. Since the beginning of the year, thirteen Episcopal Conferences have scheduled meetings with the Commission during their ad limina visits. In the plenary, reports from these visits were scrutinized, along with recommendations that will be shared with the local Churches. These findings will also be incorporated into the annual report.

Lastly, the fund intended to support local Churches was discussed. Donors have pledged to provide $2.5 million in funding for the neediest churches, and a mechanism for financial accountability regarding these funds has also been released. Twenty local churches, including Episcopal conferences and religious conferences, have expressed their intent to participate in the program, known as Memorare.

The project for the Commission's annual report, which was requested by the Pope, has been approved and is expected to be available by the end of September 2023. The inaugural annual report will be published in spring 2024.

The Commission's plenary also assessed collaboration agreements with the Roman Curia – memoranda have already been signed with the Dicastery for Bishops, the Dicastery for the Clergy, and the Dicastery for Evangelization, with one for the Dicastery for Oriental Churches set to follow shortly. The plenary convened with the superiors of the Dicastery for Oriental Churches and featured a presentation by Dr. Davin Smolin, Professor of Constitutional Law at the Columbus School of Law at Samford University, discussing the applicability of the concept of transitional justice to the Church's efforts to combat sexual abuse.

The plenary commenced with a presentation and testimony by Antonia Sobocki and Maggie Mathews of LOUDFence. Subsequently, the two were received by the Holy Father at the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

This article was originally published on ACI Stampa.