Pope Francis: Child sexual abuse concerns the entire society – Vatican News

Addressing Child Sexual Abuse: A Call for Action

By Lisa Zengarini

The scourge of child sexual abuse must be addressed by society at large, Pope Francis told a Catholic Latin American interdisciplinary group involved in training priests and religious for the protection of minors.

In his address on Monday to a delegation of the “Consejo Latinoamericano del Centro de Investigación y Formación para la Protección del Menor” (Latin American Research and Training Commission for the Protection of Minors, CEPROME), the Pope emphasized the progress made by the Church in eradicating child sexual abuse and called for continued action to safeguard vulnerable people.

Face of the suffering Christ

The Holy Father associated the suffering of abused children and all vulnerable persons with that of the suffering Christ. He referred to the “martyr child,” St. Christopher de La Guardia, celebrated by the Church in Spain on September 25. Pope Francis stated, “How the world would change if we saw in the suffering of every child, of every vulnerable person, a trait imprinted in the veil with which Veronica wiped the face of Christ!”

Addressing the scourge of child sexual abuse in society

Pope Francis expressed gratitude to the Latin American commission for its work, acknowledging its contribution to the progress made by the Church in addressing and eradicating child sexual abuse. He emphasized that this work should also extend to society as a whole, inspiring other institutions to promote a culture of care. The Pope emphasized that the Church’s efforts in fighting this scourge go beyond the mere application of protocols and are entrusted to Jesus in prayer.

He stated, “And, in front of the Redeemer, we also contemplate in that outraged face the suffering we have received and caused, so as not to feel distant from the people we welcome, but brothers, even in pain.”

Praying for the conversion of abusers

In conclusion, Pope Francis invited everyone to pray through the intercession of St. Thérèse of Lisieux for the conversion of those who commit these crimes. He urged them to see in their victims “the eyes of Jesus.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
   • Indicator: Number of victims of child sexual abuse

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
   • Indicator: Number of victims of child sexual abuse who are girls

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
   • Indicator: Proportion of population subjected to child sexual abuse by age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: vaticannews.va

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.