Vernry together with Leone XIV – Vatican Media
The French archbishop Thibault Vernry is the successor of Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley as president of the Pontifical Commission for the protection of minors. The appointment came today: Leone XIV has chosen the prelate of the Alps, a pastor of the Archdiocese of Chambéry as well as the dioceses of Saint-Jean-de Maurienne and Tarentaise, to guide the organ that since 2014 is called to supervise the treatment and prevention of abuses on the little ones and on vulnerable adults in the context of the Catholic Church worldwide.
Vernry’s message
Vernry, who was already a member of the Commission and who in the French Episcopal Conference guides the commission for sexual abuse in the Church, expressed his gratitude in a note: “With profound humility and sincere gratitude, I thank Pope Leo XIV, for my appointment as president of the Pontifical Commission for the protection of minors – writes Vernry -. I am honored by the trust that granted me, fully aware of the serious and sacred task entrusted to the Commission: help the Church to become more and more vigilant, responsible and compassionate in its mission to protect the most vulnerable among us».
The new president then expresses his own heartfelt thanks to the predecessor, Cardinal Seán O’Malley, “whose courageous and prophetic leadership has left an indelible mark not only in the Church, but in the whole society – Note Vernry -. In times of profound difficulty, Cardinal O’Malley was a moral compass for the faithful and for people of good will from all over the world. He firmly supported the primacy of listening to the voices of the victims of abuse, giving them space to be listened to, believed and accompanied in their search for truth, justice, healing and a significant institutional reform. His inheritance is that of a courageous loyalty to the Gospel and dignity of every human person “.
Looking at the work that awaits him, the French prelate also indicates the paths to follow starting from the legacy of O’Malley: “Our priorities will focus on supporting the churches, in particular those that still struggle to implement adequate protection measures. We will promote subsidiarity and fair sharing of resources so that all parts of the Church, regardless of their geographical location or circumstances, can guarantee the highest protection standards “. Words that refer to the “memorizing” project, born precisely to support in the world the policies for the protection of minors in the diocese where economic means are also missing to treat this commitment.
«We recognize that it is a path of conversion that we all continue to travel – concludes Vernry -. As Pope Francis has always reminded us, only at this condition can the Gospel be truly listened to and credible. I account for expert assistance, wisdom and dedication of my colleagues from the Commission in carrying out this mission together “.
The thanks of O’Malley
The reaction of the American Cardinal is equally confident and satisfied: “Having worked closely with Archbishop Vernry during the time in which he has been a member of the Commission since 2022, I was able to see his dedication to the prevention of abuses in the life of the Church – writes the purple in a note -. In addition to the important contributions to the work of the Commission, the Archbishop boasts years of in -depth experience of collaboration with the police, other civil authorities and the guides of the Church to promote the assumption of responsibility for the serious shortcomings of the Church in France. He was at the forefront in the search for healing and reconciliation with the victims. Archbishop Vernry – underlines O’Malley – played an important role in the development and implementation of concrete policies and procedures, with cultural specificities, for the prevention of any recurrence of abuse. It is a blessing for everyone that Pope Leo XIV has entrusted the guide of the Commission to Archbishop Vernry, which is a collaborative guide, committed to promoting the global adoption of protection and safeguard measures, to best guarantee the safety of those who are entrusted to the Church all over the world “.
Then a thought for Pope Francis, who established the Pontifical Commission: «I was honored to have been appointed President of the Commission since its foundation. In collaboration with the members and staff of the Commission, we have established policies and procedures for protection and safeguarding, always aware of the importance of obtaining recognition, resolution and peace for all people affected by abuse. I am grateful to all my colleagues associated with the Commission, both those currently active and those who have served in past years, for the significant time and commitment dedicated to this mission and for their unshakable commitment in the protection of children and vulnerable adults “.
Finally, there is no shortage of thanks to Pope Leo XIV «for guaranteeing that the Commission continues to be a priority for the Church – Note O’Malley -. The words and actions of the Holy Father in these first months of his pontificate ensure that the Church will not get into his efforts to guarantee, as far as possible, the protection of children, vulnerable adults and all people in our communities “.
The wish of the CEI and Telefono Azzurro
The National Service for the protection of CEI minors sent a greeting to Vernry, wishing him good work and “renewing his availability on a common and shared journey. The service thanks Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley for the commitment made in his assignment to lead the Commission and for the precious joint initiatives implemented in recent years “.
To express satisfaction for the choice of Vernry is also Telefono Azzurro, through the mouth of President Ernesto Caffo, who is also a member of the Pontifical Commission for the protection of minors: “The most sincere congratulations on Archbishop Thibault Vernry for his appointment as president of the Commission – he writes in a note Caffo -. I am confident that, under his guide and with the experience acquired in recent years, the Commission will continue to face the complex and evolution challenges that we are facing in the protection of minors, both in the real world and in the digital ecosystem “.
Special thanks, adds Caffo, “also goes to the commission secretary, Monsignor Luis Manuel Ali Herrera, and to his staff, whose dedicated work was a vital source of support for the mission and activities of the Commission. And a special thanks goes to Cardinal Seán O’Malley for his constant guide of the Pontifical Commission for the protection of minors, in particular during some of the most difficult periods. His commitment and his vision have contributed to ensuring that the safeguarding of vulnerable people, in particular of children and teenagers, remains at the center of the mission of the Church all over the world “.
With the appointment of Vernry, concludes the president of Telefono Azzurro, “the clear recognition by the pontiff of the importance of the safeguarding of minors is evident through the strengthening of the role of the Commission in facing the new and pressing challenges of our time”.
Who is Archbishop Thibault Vernry
Born in Paris on November 7, 1965, Vernny was consecrated priest on 27 Guugno 1998 for the diocese of the French capital. On June 25, 2016 Pope Francis appointed him auxiliary bishop of Paris. He received the episcopal consecration on 9 September following Cardinal André Ving-Trois, a metropolitan archbishop of Paris. Engaged on the abuse front on behalf of the French episcopal conference, in 2021 he promoted the creation of a listening center for the ecclesiastics who committed sexual violence. On 11 May 2023 Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Chambéry and Bishop of Saint-Jean-De Maurienne and Tarententaise.
