Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, former archbishop of Boston, is retiring from the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors at the age of 81.
Leo XIV has appointed Thibault Verny, Archbishop of Chambéry, France, as his successor.
Cardinal O’Malley had held the presidency of this body since its creation by Pope Francis in 2014. The Holy See Press Office made the announcement of the change on July 5, 2025.
Archbishop Thibault Verny praised the “courageous and prophetic leadership” of Cardinal O'Malley, who “has left an indelible mark not only on the Church but also on society as a whole.”
He explains that the former archbishop of Boston “has always defended the primacy of listening to victims of abuse, giving them the opportunity to be heard, believed, and accompanied in their search for truth, justice, healing, and meaningful institutional reform.”
Cardinal O'Malley's farewell
Cardinal O'Malley welcomed the appointment of his successor, explaining that Archbishop Verny “has been at the forefront of efforts to promote healing and reconciliation with survivors.”
He emphasized that the French archbishop “has many years of in-depth experience working with law enforcement, civil authorities, and church leaders to ensure true accountability for the serious failings of the Church in France.”
Cardinal O'Malley paid tribute to Pope Francis, who entrusted him with the presidency of the Pontifical Commission when it was established in 2014, and thanked the members of this body for “their unwavering commitment to the protection of children and vulnerable adults.”
Finally, he expressed his gratitude to Pope Leo XIV “for ensuring that the Commission remains a priority for the Church.”
He said that the words and actions of the new pope since the beginning of his pontificate “assure the world that the Church will not yield to complacency in its efforts to ensure, as much as possible, the protection of children, vulnerable persons, and all members of our communities.”
Challenges during his tenure
Cardinal O'Malley's tenure, which earned him a reputation for toughness in the 2000s for his handling of abuse scandals in the Boston diocese, was marred by the departure of several members, including German Jesuit Hanz Zollner, who stepped down in March 2023.
The Jesuit expert in the fight against sexual abuse explained that he had observed shortcomings in terms of “accountability,” “compliance,” and “transparency” within the commission and that it had become “impossible” for him to continue.
Cardinal O'Malley said he was “surprised, disappointed and in profound disagreement with his public statements questioning the effectiveness of the Commission.”
This body, which has no judicial power but can issue opinions and recommendations, is now attached to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, while retaining its autonomy of action.
Among its main tasks is the publication of an annual report scrutinizing the handling of abuse in different countries and congregations. Its first edition, in 2024, highlighted the lack of consideration given to abuse by certain African episcopates.
Archbishop Verny’s history of fighting abuse
Archbishop Thibault Verny, 59, is a native of the Diocese of Paris, where he was ordained a priest in 1998. He served as auxiliary bishop from 2016 to 2023, dealing in particular with cases of sexual abuse in the Church.
In this capacity, he was appointed a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors by Pope Francis on September 30, 2022. Until last June, he was president of the council for the prevention and fight against pedophilia within the Conference of Bishops of France. That position is now entrusted to the bishop of Amiens, Bishop Gérard Le Stang.
In 2023, Archbishop Verny became Archbishop of Chambéry and Bishop of Maurienne and Tarentaise. He will continue to assume these diocesan responsibilities in France while carrying out his mandate dedicated to the fight against abuse of minors worldwide.
Supporting Churches and networking among initiatives
In a statement, Archbishop Verny said he would approach this new responsibility with “deep humility and gratitude,” and said he was “honored by the trust” placed in him by Leo XIV.
He said he was “aware of the serious and crucial task entrusted to the Commission: to help the Church become ever more vigilant, responsible, and compassionate in its mission to protect the most vulnerable among us.”
In an interview with Vatican News, Archbishop Verny highlighted his experience of working with the civil justice system in France, noting that “working protocols” have been put in place, particularly in line with the publication of the CIASE report in October 2021. In his new role, he intends to “network the initiatives.” “Too often, individual countries work on their own. Instead, it is necessary to be able to support each other and share what is being done,” he adds.
Archbishop Verny says he wants to focus his mandate “on supporting the Churches” so that Church structures around the world “can meet the highest standards of protection.” He stresses that “this is a conversion that must continue for all of us.”
