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Pope Leo on Saturday appointed French Archbishop Thibault Verny as the new head of the Vatican’s commission on clergy sexual abuse, marking his first public move to address a crisis that has severely damaged the credibility of the Roman Catholic Church.
Verny, 59, will serve as president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors while continuing his duties as archbishop in southeastern France.
The commission was established in 2014 by Pope Francis as part of broader efforts to respond to widespread public outcry over sexual abuse scandals involving clergy.
Verny said the commission would continue advancing measures to uphold the highest standards of protection.
He succeeds Cardinal Seán O’Malley, the former archbishop of Boston. O’Malley, 81, had remained in the role past the Church’s customary retirement age of 80 for bishops.
In 2023, a prominent Jesuit priest and papal advisor resigned from the commission, publicly raising concerns about its management.
Verny was first appointed to the commission in 2022 and has led efforts to improve protection policies within the French Church.
