In his first public move to confront the clergy sexual abuse crisis, Pope Leo has appointed French Archbishop Thibault Verny as the new president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The appointment, announced Saturday, marks a significant step by the new pontiff to address a longstanding issue that has severely damaged the Catholic Church’s global credibility.
Verny, 59, currently serves as the archbishop of Chambéry in southeast France and will maintain this role while leading the Vatican’s key body on child protection. The commission was established in 2014 by Pope Francis in an effort to respond to decades of abuse scandals that have rocked the Church across continents.
“I am committed to improving the Church’s safeguarding measures,” Verny stated. “We will promote the equitable sharing of resources so that all parts of the Church, regardless of geography or circumstance, can uphold the highest standards of protection.”
Verny replaces Cardinal Seán O’Malley, the former Archbishop of Boston, who led the commission since its inception. O’Malley, now 81, had been serving beyond the Church’s customary retirement age for bishops. His tenure was marked by both progress and internal challenges, including resignations of several commission members and criticism over the commission’s effectiveness.
In 2023, a prominent Jesuit priest and papal adviser stepped down from the group, publicly raising concerns about its direction and governance. Despite these setbacks, the commission has been credited with pushing for reform and raising awareness of the Church’s duty to protect the vulnerable.
Verny, who joined the commission in 2022 under Pope Francis, has played a central role in leading the French Church’s safeguarding initiatives. His appointment signals Pope Leo’s intent to prioritize the Church’s global accountability and renew efforts to rebuild trust with abuse survivors and the broader faithful.
Cardinal O’Malley welcomed the appointment, describing Verny as “a collaborative leader committed to advancing the global adoption of protection and safeguarding.”
As Pope Leo begins his papacy, this move may set the tone for a renewed commitment to transparency and justice within the Church’s highest ranks.
