Pope Leo XIV has appointed a French archbishop as the new leader of the Vatican’s commission on clergy sexual abuse, in the U.S. pontiff’s first public move to confront an issue that has damaged the global Church’s credibility.
Thibault Verny, 59, will be president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors while also remaining the archbishop of Chambery in southeast France. after sexual abuse scandals affected the Church in countries across the world.
The scandals have damaged the Church’s standing as a moral voice, led to lawsuits costing millions in countries across the globe, and resulted in a number of resignations of bishops, including the Cardinal Keith O’Brien.
Verny said he was committed to improving the Church’s safeguarding measures.
“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,” he said in a statement.
Verny replaces Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the former archbishop of Boston. O’Malley, 81, had been serving beyond the Church’s traditional retirement age of 80 for bishops.
Cardinal O’Malley had led the group since its creation.
While some victims have praised the commission’s efforts, it has also been roiled by the resignations of several of its members over the years.
In 2023, a prominent Jesuit priest and papal adviser stepped down, saying publicly that he had concerns over the way the group was operating.
Verny was first made a member of the commission by Pope Francis in 2022. He has also led the French Church’s safeguarding efforts.
O’Malley praised the appointment, saying in a statement Verny is “a collaborative leader committed to advancing the global adoption of protection and safeguarding, to as best possible assure the safety of those in the care of the Church throughout the world”.
The Catholic Church in Scotland has its own safeguarding agency based in the Archdiocese of Glasgow and led by retired Court of Session judge, Lady Rita Rae.
Former judge is Chair of independent Safeguarding agency appointed by Catholic Church in Scotland
The Catholic Church in Scotland appointed Lady Rita Rae QC as the first Board Chair of the new Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (SCSSA) which has operated as a private company since 2021.
She said at the time, “I recognise that, in establishing this independent agency, the Catholic Church in Scotland is taking another bold step to ensure that its safeguarding practice is meeting the highest standards.
“I intend to ensure that the agency will operate with independence and that it will seek to rebuild confidence and trust, especially among those who have experienced abuse.
“I look forward to recruiting fellow Board members who will bring rigour, independence and expertise to the work of the agency.”
The SCSSA will operate entirely independently of the Catholic Church, with its own staff and non-executive directors who will work in close collaboration with dioceses and religious communities to ensure that they are meeting safeguarding standards.
Crucially, it will develop a forum in which those who have experienced abuse can contribute their own perspectives to the development of the Church’s safeguarding practice.
Bishop Hugh Gilbert said, “When considering a number of possible candidates for this important post, the Bishops were united in their view that the SCSSA Board Chair must be able to act with impartiality, integrity and freedom from interference.
“We immediately recognised that Lady Rae’s prestigious legal career, and her reputation as a recent Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland, offered great testimony to the rigour and the independence with which she will approach this role. We are delighted that she has accepted this appointment.”
Lady Rae, pictured left, began to recruit SCSSA Board Members in January 2022.
