Pope Leo XIV has appointed a French archbishop as the new president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Source: Crux.
Archbishop Thibault Verny, who heads the Archdiocese of Chambéry–Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne–Tarentaise, will replace American Cardinal Seán O’Malley, 81, who has led the commission since Pope Francis created it in 2014.
“Having worked closely with Archbishop Verny through his membership on the commission since 2022, I have witnessed his dedication to the prevention of abuse in the life of the Church,” Cardinal O’Malley said.
“In addition to important contributions to the work of the commission, the archbishop has years of in-depth experience working with law enforcement, other civil authorities, and Church leadership to ensure accountability for the serious failures of the Church in France,” he said.
When Archbishop Verny was auxiliary bishop of Paris, he led efforts on dealing with abuse cases, and is now head of safeguarding for the French bishops’ conference.
“He has been at the forefront in seeking healing and reconciliation with survivors,” the American cardinal said in a statement.
“Archbishop Verny played an important role in the development and implementation of substantive policies and procedures, with cultural specificity, for the prevention of any recurrence of abuse.
“It is a blessing for all people that Pope Leo has entrusted the leadership of the commission to the Archbishop, a collaborative leader committed to advancing the global adoption of protection and safeguarding, to as best possible assure the safety of those in the care of the Church throughout the world.”
Pope Leo met with the commission members a month ago in an hour-long session. The commission has had a rocky history since its founding, with Irish abuse survivor Marie Collins resigning in frustration in 2017 after claiming the Vatican was stonewalling on the commission’s proposals.
Jesuit Father Hans Zollner left his post at the commission in 2023, citing a host of problems inside the commission and its relationship with the Vatican bureaucracy.
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French archbishop appointed head of Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (By Charles Collins, Crux)
