Pope Leo XIV and Vatican officials have urged Catholic leaders across Asia to adopt a “zero tolerance” stance on abuse and urged them to strengthen measures to protect minors and vulnerable adults. Source: UCA News.
The appeal came during the first National Safeguarding Conference, held in the Catholic-majority Philippines from October 20–24, with more than 300 bishops, religious superiors, and lay experts in attendance.
Pope Francis, in a message to the conference, reiterated that “there can be no tolerance for any form of abuse in the Church”, urging delegates to promote transparency and accountability in safeguarding policies.
“The Church is our spiritual home. Every parish and pastoral activity must be a space that glorifies God and cares for others, especially children and the vulnerable,” the Pope said, according to Vatican News.
The conference, titled “Our Mission of Safeguarding: A Journey of Hope and Compassion,” was organised jointly by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the Conference of Major Superiors of the Philippines, and the Catholic Safeguarding Institute based in Manila.
Bishop Luis Manuel Ali Herrera, secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, told Church leaders to approach safeguarding “not out of fear or obligation, but as a sacred responsibility rooted in virtue and conversion”.
“Accept this mission not as a burden imposed from outside, but as a pastoral urgency to be lived with authenticity,” the Colombian bishop said, according to the News website of the Philippine bishops.
Bishop Herrera called for a shift “from policy to practice,” urging dioceses to establish independent reporting systems, adopt trauma-informed formation programs, and collaborate with civil authorities and survivor groups.
“We must move from intention to implementation,” he said. “Clear governance structures, regular evaluations, and transparent communication are essential.”
He also warned of growing digital risks, calling on the Church to develop robust online safeguarding protocols.
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Pope urges Asian Churches not to tolerate abuse of minors (UCA News)
