The Vatican’s Commission for the Protection of Minors (Tutela Minorum) has lauded the Malta Church’s Safeguarding Commission for its “exemplary” guidelines, recommending that other episcopal conferences around the world adopt similar standards.
In its 2024 annual report on Church safeguarding policies and procedures, the Pontifical Commission said the Archbishop of Malta and Bishop of Gozo were fully committed to the Church’s response to abuse and had shown “strong and admirable leadership in safeguarding over a sustained period.”
The Pontifical Commission also commended the Malta Safeguarding Commission for adopting a “conversional justice” style with a “strong emphasis on a victim-centred approach”.
It highlighted the Maltese Church’s “professionalisation of safeguarding,” supported by qualified staff, expert input, and robust resources. The Pontifical Commission also praised the Safeguarding Commission’s transparency, pointing to its publication of safeguarding information and statistics online.
“All staff and board members that make up the Interdiocesan Safeguarding Commission and Secretariat are thoroughly trained safeguarding professionals. This is a good practice,” the report noted.
The Pontifical Commission also welcomed that the Church in Malta and Gozo introduced a whistleblowing policy, enhanced data protection measures, and specific provisions addressing online abuse – which, it said, is “a unique and welcome practice” that should be shared with other episcopal conferences tackling the growing issue of digital exploitation.
It further praised the new safeguarding policy adopted across all Church entities in Malta and Gozo last year, which set higher standards and placed the welfare of alleged victims at the centre of investigations.
The Commission also commended the proactive leadership of Malta’s Head of Safeguarding, Mr Mark Pellicano.
“The Safeguarding Commission runs regular social media and public awareness campaigns to promote its services within the community; (while Mr Pellicano) maintains close working relationships with the heads of various lay groups and regularly meets with the Forum of Catholic lay movements, providing an encouraging platform for collaboration around safeguarding,” the Pontifical Commission said.
The Safeguarding Commission in Malta was set up soon after Mgr Charles Scicluna’s nomination as Archbishop in 2015 – replacing the earlier Response Team established since 1999 – to advise on the development of policies, best practice, prevention programmes, victim care, investigations, and assessments related to safeguarding minors and vulnerable adults.