Child sexual abuse

Pope Leo XIV Names French Archbishop to Lead Child Protection

Published JUL 5 2025

Story

Above: Thibault Verny at the end of the beatification mass of Camille Costa de Beauregard in the cathedral of Chambéry, Savoie, France, on May 17, 2025. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Facts

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday appointed French Archbishop Thibault Verny, 59, as the new president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, replacing Cardinal Sean O'Malley, who had led the commission since its founding in 2014.
Fox 59
Vatican News
Verny serves as Archbishop of Chambery, France, and has been a commission member since 2022, bringing extensive experience from leading child protection efforts within the French bishops' Conference.
Reuters
Firstpost
The appointment comes after a 2021 report estimated 330,000 children in France had been sexually abused over 70 years by church personnel, prompting reforms Verny helped implement.
Fox 59
Firstpost
Cardinal O'Malley praised Verny's "in-depth experience helping victims and working with law enforcement and civil authorities to ensure accountability for the serious failures of the church in France."
Fox 59
Crux
The Pontifical Commission has faced internal challenges, with several members resigning over the years, including Irish abuse survivor Marie Collins in 2017 and Jesuit Father Hans Zollner in 2023.
Reuters
Crux
Verny stated his priorities would focus on supporting churches struggling to implement safeguarding measures and promoting "equitable sharing of resources so that all parts of the Church can uphold the highest standards of protection."
Omnes
Reuters

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The Spin

Conservative narrative

This appointment demonstrates Pope Leo's commitment to maintaining strong leadership in combating clergy abuse. Verny brings proven experience from France's comprehensive response to abuse scandals, including victim support centers and accountability measures. His track record of working with civil authorities shows the Church is serious about transparency and justice.

Fox 59

Firstpost

Progressive narrative

The commission has struggled with credibility issues as multiple members have resigned, citing Vatican stonewalling and operational problems. While Verny has experience, critics question whether the Church's existing protocols provide adequate accountability or justice for survivors. Real reform necessitates structural changes that extend beyond leadership appointments.

The New York Times

Editor's Note

This story currently has limited coverage. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our reporting as additional information becomes available.