Pope Leo: Safeguarding minors 'is a mandate' for the Church

“The encounter with Christ marks us in a positive way and leads us toward a life full of love and freedom, whereas situations of abuse do the opposite, causing traumatic wounds that condition and diminish the spiritual and human development of the person.”Pope Leo made these remarks before his General Audience on Wednesday to members of the Centro de Investigación y Formación de Protección al Menor (“Center for Research and Training on Protection of Minors”), a Latin American interdisciplinary organization focused on preventing abuse and promoting child protection.

He said he was pleased to welcome representatives from different Latin American nations, but with a very clear common goal: working so that ecclesial communities may be safe places for everyone, especially children, adolescents, and the most vulnerable people.

Pope Leo stressed to them his wish that "all spaces in the Church, whether physical or virtual, may truly be places for a fruitful encounter with Jesus Christ, free from fears, suspicions, or distrust.”