Vatican City: Church leaders and victim survivor advocates have pledged to deepen cooperation in the fight against abuse following the first Rome Safeguarding Dialogues, held in Rome on June 15 and 16.
The meeting brought together members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and representatives of Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) for two days of discussions focused on improving safeguarding measures, supporting victims and survivors, and strengthening accountability across the Catholic Church.
Hosted at Palazzo Maffei, the gathering was proposed by Pope Leo XIV after his meeting with the ECA Board in October 2025. Participants described the dialogue as an important step towards ensuring that Church safeguarding policies are shaped by the experiences and needs of those affected by abuse.
Opening the meeting, Monsignor Thibault Verny, President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, stressed the importance of listening carefully to victims and survivors. He said that listening must lead to meaningful action if the Church is to build trust and provide effective protection.
ECA Board President Gemma Hickey called on participants to approach the discussions with openness, kindness, and hope. Hickey also highlighted the shared responsibility of protecting children and vulnerable people within Church communities around the world.
During the talks, participants examined issues including victims' rights, institutional responsibility, justice, and safeguarding standards. Discussions focused on ways to ensure that the voices of victims and survivors play a stronger role in shaping Church policies, reporting systems, and safeguarding practices.
The Commission also presented its newly introduced statutes, which provide an updated framework for safeguarding within the Church. Participants were briefed on the methods used in the Commission's Annual Report, particularly its efforts to involve victims and survivors in evaluating safeguarding measures in local Churches.
Another key area of discussion was the need for stronger legal and pastoral responses to abuse. ECA shared details of its advocacy work in several countries and renewed its call for universal safeguarding standards to improve accountability and protection throughout the global Church.
Participants also agreed that safeguarding efforts must extend beyond minors to include all vulnerable people, including women religious, priests, seminarians, and members of lay movements. They acknowledged ongoing challenges such as cultural differences, uneven implementation of safeguarding measures, and limited resources in some regions.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides committed to continuing dialogue on safeguarding recommendations, expanding cooperation in advocacy efforts, strengthening engagement with victims and survivors, and addressing obstacles to implementation through regular communication.
The Rome Safeguarding Dialogues ended with a shared commitment to advancing victim and survivor centred approaches and promoting practical measures aimed at creating a safer Church worldwide.