The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has published its Second Annual Report, reaffirming the Church’s commitment to placing victims and survivors of abuse at the centre of its safeguarding mission and expanding the evidence base that guides reform. Building on last year’s inaugural report, the 2025 edition draws on a broader range of information, including testimonies from victims and survivors, responses from Church entities, official safeguarding guidelines, and contributions from Apostolic Nunciatures and international organisations.
A central feature of this year’s report is the contribution of the Victim/Survivor Focus Group, which brought together around 40 individuals from across all regions where the Commission operates. Participants were selected through trauma-informed methods to ensure a safe and respectful process. They shared reflections on reparations, reviewed selected sections of the draft report, and took part in one-on-one listening sessions with safeguarding professionals.
Their insights informed the analysis and recommendations of the report and contributed to several major initiatives, including the development of a vademecum, a practical handbook to guide local Churches in offering reparations. The work of the Focus Group also supported the refinement of the Universal Guidelines Framework and the Memorare Initiative, which continue to shape the Commission’s strategic approach to safeguarding.
The 2025 Report incorporates a wider range of data than previous years. Alongside testimonies, the Commission used responses to safeguarding questionnaires, Ad Limina reports, official Church documents, academic and journalistic sources, and findings from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. These sources were cross-checked to improve accuracy and highlight regional trends.
The findings reveal both progress and ongoing challenges. Many local Churches have strengthened safeguarding systems and increased transparency in reporting. Yet limited access to support services, shortages of trained personnel, and cultural barriers to reporting remain significant obstacles, particularly in the Global South.
The Report places special emphasis on Reparations, the Church’s pastoral and moral responsibility to accompany victims and survivors in their healing. Reparations are understood as a broad process of repair and reconciliation that includes psychological support, spiritual accompaniment, and community reintegration, not only financial compensation.