The meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church

During the extraordinary Summit of Presidents of Episcopal Conferences from around the world and Pope Francis on the important theme “THE PROTECTION OF MINORS IN THE CHURCH,” Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB, and Matteo Ciofi will be reporting on the event live from the Vatican.



Why Pope Francis proposed the meeting?

The Pope explained his intention very well on the return flight from Panama. He wants to help the bishops clearly understand what they must do. It was in this sense that he spoke of a “catechesis”. This “catechesis” will begin through the presidents of the episcopal conferences.

Firstly, he wants them to become aware of the tragedy, of the suffering of the victims. Out of this will arise a strong sense of responsibility on the part of individual bishops, on the part of the bishops as a whole, and on the part of the wider community, that is, the Church.

Secondly, he wants them to know what they need to do: what the procedures are, what tasks need to be accomplished at various levels (diocesan bishop, archdiocesan bishop, episcopal conference, Vatican dicasteries). This will lead to mutual accountability of the responsibilities and tasks that each has in relation to other bishops in the Church, and in society.

This presupposes “transparency” regarding tasks, procedures, and the way in which they are accomplished.

In this way, the Church’s credibility and people’s ability to trust the Church might be recuperated.

Broadcast Schedule

DAY 1

Thursday, Feb. 21 on the theme of RESPONSIBILITY
11:30amET / 8:30amPT & 9pmET / 6pmPT
  • Introduction by the Holy Father
  • Presentations by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, and Cardinal Rubén Salazar Gómez
  • Press Briefing

DAY 2

Friday, Feb. 22 on the theme of ACCOUNTABILITY
11:30amET / 8:30amPT & 9pmET / 6pmPT
  • Presentations by Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Cardinal Blasé Cupich, and Dr. Linda Ghisoni
  • Press Briefing

DAY 3

Saturday, Feb. 23 on the theme of TRANSPARENCY
11:30amET / 8:30amPT & 9pmET / 6pmPT
  • Presentations by Sr. Veronica Openibo, SHCJ, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, and Dr. Valentina Alazraki
  • Press Briefing

DAY 4

Sunday, Feb. 24 CONCLUSION
11:30amET / 8:30amPT & 9pmET / 6pmPT
  • Eucharistic Celebration
  • Final Address of the Holy Father
  • Press Briefing

Most Updated Videos

Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP

Former Master of the Order of Preachers

February 21, 2019
Fr. Timothy offers some thoughts on how we as a church should deal with this crisis and how we can discuss the issue with other faithful Catholics who are discouraged by the recent allegations of abuse.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet

Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops

February 21, 2019
Cardinal Ouellet shares with us his personal hopes for this historic summit.

Witness Interview - Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna

Archbishop of Malta and Vatican Official

February 20, 2019
Over the past years, Archbishop Scicluna has become the face of the Roman Catholic Church in the fight to eliminate the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults by clergy and its cover-up by bishops and heads of religious orders....

Bishop Lionel Gendron, P.S.S.

The President of the the Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops

February 20, 2019
The President of the the Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops talks to S+L TV about what his hopes and expectations are for the Vatican Summit on the Protection of Minors in the Church.

Vatican Connections: The Summit on Protection of Minors in the Church begins

February 19, 2019
This week, all the presidents from the world’s episcopal conferences will convene in Rome for four days at the pope’s request for the much-anticipated sexual abuse summit.

Resources

Valentina Alazraki

Journalist - Televisa, Mexico

February 25, 2019
Veteran Mexican journalist Valentina Alazraki discussed the role of the press to help hold the Church accountable, especially when it comes to sexual abuse.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx

Archbishop of Munich and Freising & President

February 25, 2019
Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, spoke next about the role abuse of administration has played in the crisis. Here's an excerpt of what he had to say.

Sr. Veronica Openibo, SHCJ

Congregational Leader - Society of the Holy Child Jesus

February 25, 2019
Over the weekend, the Vatican’s Summit on the Protection of Minors in the Church continued. One of three speakers for Day Three was Veronica Openibo, a Nigerian sister and leader of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. Here’s what she had to say.

The Holy Father Francis’ concluding address

Pope Francis

February 24, 2019
"Dear Brothers and Sisters, As I thank the Lord who has accompanied us during these days, I would like to thank all of you for the ecclesial spirit and concrete commitment that you have so generously demonstrated....

Homily at Mass concluding the Summit on the Protection of Minors in the Church

Archbishop Mark Coleridge

February 24, 2019
Homily of Archbishop Mark Coleridge during the Eucharistic Celebration in the Sala Regia of the Vatican Apostolic Palace at the conclusion of the Meeting on "The Protection of Minors in the Church"

Dr. Linda Ghisoni

Undersecretary of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life

February 22, 2019
The final presentation of Day Two was given by Dr. Linda Ghisoni, Undersecretary for the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.

Cardinal Blase Cupich

Archbishop of Chicago

February 22, 2019
Cardinal Blase Cupich addressed the summit on Day 2, concluding his remarks with what he called “a framework for constructing new legal structures of accountability in the Church.” This excerpt features the concrete aspects of accountability he suggested for that framework.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias

Archbishop of Bombay

February 22, 2019
The official theme of the second day's proceedings at the Protection of Minors in the Church Summit was accountability.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna

Archbishop of Malta and Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

February 21, 2019
Archbishop Scicluna addresses the summit assembly.
Courtesy of KTO and Vatican Media.

Cardinal Luis Tagle

Archbishop of Manila

February 21, 2019
Cardinal Tagle gives the first formal talk of the summit.
Courtesy of KTO and Vatican Media.

Comms team for pope’s anti-abuse summit gives reason for hope

Inés San Martín

February 21, 2019
ROME - After heartfelt attempts to play down its importance, a summit of Catholic bishops will begin Thursday aiming to tackle the crisis of clerical sexual abuse, something the Church has grappled with for decades.....

Opening Prayer

for the Meeting on the Protection of Minors

 Download:

Digital Press Kit

for the Meeting on the Protection of Minors

 Download:

Protection of Minors: A Global Mission for a Church that Goes Forth

Federico Lombardi, SJ

February 19, 2019
We have attempted to offer a summary outline of the sexual abuse crisis by members of the clergy in the Catholic Church in two previous articles.[1] These looked at some orientations to respond to this problem, which will be at the core of a Vatican Meeting for Bishops, February 21-24, 2019....

Archbishop Coleridge message on eve of Vatican summit

Archbishop Mark Coleridge, SJ

February 18, 2019
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Mark Coleridge is in Rome for the Vatican's child protection summit. He says the meeting is a critical one as the global Church seeks a global solution to the problem of abuse and a history of cover-up.

Press Release:

“Catholics call the Pope and Bishops to reform the Church with a new culture of leadership that is transparent, accountable, and co-responsible”

A Statement from Leadership Roundtable on the Vatican Abuse Meeting



Child Protection: From awareness to engagement

Federico Lombardi, SJ

January 22, 2019
In an earlier article I gave an overview of the main stages of the clerical sex abuse crisis and the response from the Church during recent pontificates.[1] Now I wish to present some examples of local documents and on-the-ground initiatives. This will help gain a better understanding of the lines along which the response of the Church develops, where it is already clear and operational....

Preparing the Meeting of Bishops on the Protection of Minors

Federico Lombardi, SJ

December 19, 2018
"Faced with widespread and growing discomfort following new reports and revelations of very serious cases of sexual abuse involving members of the clergy, on September 12, 2018, at the end of one of the meetings of the Council of Cardinals it was announced that the Holy Father had decided to call a meeting in the Vatican for February 21-24, 2019....

Holding on to Hope: A Reflection on Clerical Abuse in the Church

Fr. Matt Gworek

August 23, 2018
Read a Reflection on Clerical Abuse in the Church by Salt+Light intern, Fr. Matt Gworek: Holding on to Hope.

Testimonies

Bishops around the world have met with survivors of sexual abuse in preparation for the Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church. Here are video testimonies about the impact that such meetings had on them.

Courtesy of www.pbc2019.org

Georges Pontier

Archbishop of Marseille
President of the Episcopal Conference of France

Archbishop Eamon Martin

Archbishop of Armagh
President of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference

Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti (Video 1)

Archbishop of Perugia-Città della Pieve
President of the Episcopal Conference of Italy

Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti (Video 2)

Archbishop of Perugia-Città della Pieve
President of the Episcopal Conference of Italy

Monseigner Stanislaw Gadecki

Archbishop of Poznan
Episcopal Conference of Poland

Monseigner Jean-Claude Hollerich S.J.

Archbishop of Luxembourg

Cardinal Vincent Gerard Nichols

Archbishop of Westminster
President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales