The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has announced that it will present its pilot Annual Report on Safeguarding at the Holy See Press Office on Tuesday 29^th October 2024. Among those presenting the report at the press conference will be: Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, Commission President; Maud De Boer Buquicchio, Commission Member and Annual Report Chairperson; Bishop Luis Manuel Alí Herrera, Commission Secretary; and Teresa Kettelkamp, Commission Adjunct Secretary.

The launch of the Annual Report is both a milestone for the Commission and a work-in-progress. It is the first step towards a process of data gathering and reporting within the Catholic Church, which began by papal request.

Pope Francis stated: 

“This will be a factor of transparency and accountability and – I hope – will provide a clear audit of our progress in this effort.”

Cardinal O'Malley said:

“Our goal is to develop an Annual Report with a commitment to transparency and accountability, in solidarity with victims and survivors throughout the world,”

The Report will be divided into four sections:

• The first section focuses on the local Church, reviewing the safeguarding policies and procedures taken by 17 local Churches. The information on the local Churches was gathered during the ad Limina visits of the bishops in those dioceses.

• The second section will delve into the Church’s safeguarding mission within the continental regions.

• The third section aims to analyze the safeguarding policies and procedures of the Roman Curia in service of the local Church, by assessing the different Dicasteries.

• The fourth section gives a picture of the Church’s safeguarding ministry in the broader society, examining in the present report the case study of Caritas Internationalis and its offices in different countries around the world.