Leo addressed the topic in a March 16 audience with members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.<\/p>\n
VATICAN CITY \u2014 Pope Leo XIV on Monday urged the Church to listen to victims of sexual abuse, and called for the recognition of the pain caused and for the creation of \u201ca culture of care.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is about helping to form, throughout the Church, a culture of care, in which the protection of minors and persons in vulnerable situations is not seen as an obligation imposed from outside but as a natural expression of faith,\u201d the pope said in an audience with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM) on March 16.<\/p>\n
He added that it calls \u201cfor a process of conversion where the sufferings of others are heard and move us to take action.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo noted that the experiences of victims and survivors are \u201cessential reference points,\u201d adding that \u201cwhile they are certainly painful and difficult to hear, these experiences powerfully bring the truth to light and teach us humility.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also warned bishops and the superiors of religious orders and communities that they \u201chave a responsibility of their own that cannot be delegated\u201d to \u201clistening to victims and accompanying them\u201d in every ecclesial institution and community.<\/p>\n
He further stated that \u201cit is precisely through the recognition of the pain that has occurred that a credible path for hope and renewal is opened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prevention is not only a set of rules<\/p>\n
The Holy Father explained that \u201cprevention is never just a set of protocols or procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also insisted that \u201cthe protection of minors and persons in vulnerable situations is not an isolated area of ecclesial life but a dimension that permeates pastoral care, formation, governance, and discipline.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pope also thanked the commission for its work in abuse prevention, describing it as \u201ca demanding service, sometimes silent, often burdensome,\u201d and asked its members to intensify \u201ceven greater cooperation\u201d with other dicasteries and protection institutions.<\/p>\n
This story\u00a0was first published\u00a0by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.<\/p>\n