Vatican city: Pope Leo XIV has appointed French Archbishop Thibault Verny as the Vatican's new abuse commissioner. The 59-year-old succeeds US Cardinal Se¡n O'Malley, who has surpassed the age limit of 80 years. In his new role as head of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Verny will be responsible for addressing scandals that have affected the Catholic Church globally.
According to Ghana News Agency, Verny, who leads the Alpine archdiocese of Chamb©ry in south-east France, described his appointment as a 'serious and sacred task.' He emphasized the importance of the Church being more vigilant, responsible, and merciful in its mission to protect the weakest among its followers. Before this role, Verny served as chairman of the body established by the French Bishops' Conference to tackle and prevent abuse within the French Church.
Pope Leo XIV, originally from the United States, has previously advocated for a 'culture of prevention' within the Church, emphasizing that no form of abuse should be tolerated. The commission Verny now leads was established in 2014 by the late Pope Francis, in response to numerous scandals involving abuse and cover-up attempts. Cardinal O'Malley, the former archbishop of Boston, led the commission since its inception and continued to serve even beyond the traditional retirement age for bishops.
