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His message was delivered Monday to participants of “Building Communities that Safeguard Dignity,” an event organised by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Vatican News reported.
A Vatican conference on protecting the vulnerable opened this week with a direct appeal from Pope Leo XIV, who urged consecrated men and women to anchor their communities in respect, listening, and responsibility.
Addressing religious attending the conference, Vatican News reports, he emphasised the need for renewed commitment to safeguarding.
Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed that dignity is inherent to every person. He said dignity is not earned “by merit or force” but stems from God’s enduring love for each individual.
Even faces marked by “fatigue or pain,” he wrote, reflect “the Creator’s goodness” — a light that cannot be overcome by darkness.
The Pope urged religious communities to place this conviction at the heart of their witness.
A call to accompaniment
The Pope encouraged consecrated men and women to approach others with respect, tenderness and a readiness to share in their hopes and burdens.
“Care and protection for our neighbour also arise from a gaze able to recognize and a heart able to listen,” he said, according to Vatican News.
Their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, he added, should deepen their capacity for authentic love.
Preventing harm
Pope Leo XIV invited participants to share their experiences.
Communities, he said, should be places of trust and dialogue where every person is “respected, heard, and valued.”
He suggested that practising justice with mercy allows even wounded experiences
The conference included discussions on safeguarding frameworks and formation practices within religious life.
Supporting safeguarding work
In closing, the Pope expressed firm support for the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and its global mission.
He encouraged religious orders to collaborate more closely in promoting the Church’s “growth in a culture of safeguarding,” Vatican News reported.
The Commission continues to emphasise training, accountability and survivor-informed approaches across dioceses and religious institutes worldwide.
Sources: VaticanNews
