🕊️ Pope Leo Appoints French Archbishop to Lead Vatican’s Anti-Abuse Commission

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Vatican City, 5 July 2025 – In a decisive move to address the Catholic Church’s long-standing crisis over clergy sexual abuse, Pope Leo XIV on Saturday appointed Archbishop Thibault Verny of Chambéry, France, as the new president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The appointment marks the U.S.-born pontiff’s first public action on an issue that has deeply eroded the Church’s global credibility.

🔍 A Strategic Appointment

Archbishop Verny, 59, succeeds Cardinal Seán O’Malley, the former archbishop of Boston, who led the commission since its founding by Pope Francis in 2014. O’Malley, now 81, had served beyond the Church’s traditional retirement age and praised Verny as “a collaborative leader committed to advancing global safeguarding standards”.

Verny brings extensive experience in child protection, having previously overseen safeguarding efforts within the French Church and conducted audits of diocesan support centers for abuse victims. He joined the commission in 2022 and is expected to strengthen its influence and operational transparency.

🛡️ Mandate and Challenges

The Pontifical Commission was established to advise the Vatican on best practices for preventing abuse and protecting minors. While it has made strides in policy development, it has also faced internal resignations and criticism over its limited authority and inconsistent implementation across dioceses.

In a statement, Verny emphasized the need for equitable resource sharing across the global Church to ensure uniform protection standards:

“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”.

🌍 Global Implications

The appointment comes amid renewed scrutiny of the Church’s handling of abuse cases, with survivors and advocacy groups urging stronger accountability mechanisms. Verny’s leadership is seen as a potential turning point in restoring trust and advancing reforms that have stalled under previous administrations.

For further details, see MSN’s coverage and Devdiscourse’s report.

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