Pope Leo XIV calls safeguarding minors a core faith duty, urging Church leaders to act on survivors' experiences and address new risks.

Pope Leo XIV urged the Catholic Church to view protecting minors and vulnerable people as a core expression of faith, not just rules, during an address to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. He called for listening to survivors, embracing their pain, and letting their experiences drive cultural change. The pope stressed that safeguarding must be rooted in Gospel values, integrated into pastoral care, formation, and governance, and led personally by bishops and religious leaders. He affirmed the commission’s permanent place in the Roman Curia and praised its transparency, while highlighting emerging challenges like digital risks and evolving understandings of vulnerability.