Pope calls for more effective social cooperation against sexual abuse

Message from Francis to the global symposium "Faith and Flourishing: Strategies for Preventing and Healing Child Sexual Abuse." May the initiative contribute "to a greater awareness of the gravity and extent of child sexual abuse".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - A significant moment in the journey of the fight against abuse, even if "there is still a lot of work to do". It is in this perspective that - from 8 to 10 April – a global online symposium is being held on the theme: "Faith and Flourishing: Strategies for Preventing and Healing Child Sexual Abuse", promoted by the Pontifical Commission for the protection of Minors, by Harvard Divinity School and the Catholic University of America, in collaboration with international organizations such as Unicef ​​and the World Health Organization.

In a message signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis hopes that the initiative will contribute "to a greater awareness of the gravity and extent of sexual abuse of minors" with a view to promoting "more effective cooperation at all levels. of society to eradicate this profound evil ".

At the same time he expresses his gratitude "for the continuous efforts that are being made to ensure the well-being of all the children of God and to restore dignity and hope to survivors of abuse".

Opening the meeting, Cardinal Seán O'Malley, President of the Pontifical Commission, thanked the victims of abuse who continue to come forward. “It is thanks to your courage - he said - that the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults and victim assistance programs are becoming central components in every aspect of our lives. But as the program of this symposium makes clear, there is still a lot of work to be done”.

Speaking at the meeting, Reverend Denis Mutwege, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2018, spoke about his experience as a doctor in a hospital in Bukavu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in front of many victims of rape used as a weapon of war, underlining the importance of the commitment of leaders of all religions to end rape as a weapon of war and to combat the sexual abuse of children, in particular. "Rather than being ostracized - he said in this regard - these survivors should feel supported and respected. Instead of feeling helpless, they should have the power to change things. Instead of being silenced, they should have the opportunity to break the silence and speak".