In September, following months of revelations about the ongoing sexual abuse crisis in the United States and elsewhere, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had summoned the heads of bishops’ conferences in 130 countries for a summit on the protection of children.
From Feb. 21 to 24, nearly 190 church leaders will gather in Rome for what Pope Francis hopes to be “a powerful gesture of pastoral responsibility in the face of an urgent challenge.” Each of the first three days of the meeting will be devoted to one aspect of the abuse crisis: responsibility, accountability and transparency. Pope Francis and participants will attend a penitential liturgy the evening of Feb. 23 and a Mass Feb. 24.
The Vatican will live-stream all the keynote speeches and the interventions of Pope Francis, as well as the penitential service and the closing Mass.
Check back here each day for America’s on-the-ground coverage of the summit and analysis from experts in the field of child protection.
News
Journalist at abuse summit: The press is not the enemy of the church
Nigerian sister asks bishops: Why did the church allow atrocities of sex abuse to remain secret?
Cardinal Marx: the Catholic Church must be transparent in its handling of sexual abuse
Vatican official urges revision on ‘pontifical secret’ and role of laity in abuse crisis
Cardinal Gracias: sex abuse crisis is a global problem with ‘no easy solution’
At abuse summit, Cardinal Cupich describes a framework for bishops’ accountability
Pope Francis presents 21-point “road map” to guide discussion at abuse summit
Cardinal Tagle at abuse summit: How do we balance justice and forgiveness?
At Vatican summit, survivors expose ‘cancer’ of clergy sex abuse
Pope Francis at abuse summit opening: “Listen to the cry of the little ones”
Vatican emphasizes transparency and accountability at upcoming sex abuse summit
Cardinal Cupich: The Vatican abuse summit will focus on ‘responsibility, accountability and transparency’
Church leaders and victim advocates temper expectations for Vatican’s abuse summit
Analysis
Why the Catholic Church needs a Eucharistic response to the sex abuse scandals
Podcast: Will a new book hijack coverage of the sexual abuse summit?
The Editors: The Vatican’s sex abuse summit is a time for decisive action
