The theme of the conference organised at Palazzo Borromeo, the seat of the Italian Embassy to the Holy See, on 29 May was “Combating child abuse in Italy”.
Promoted by the Italian Episcopal Conference in collaboration with the Embassy – which has long been committed to promoting events dedicated to the protection of the most vulnerable – the event opened with institutional greetings from the Italian Ambassador to the Holy See, Francesco Di Nitto, followed by speeches from Monsignor Luis Manuel Alí Herrera, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, and Monsignor Giuseppe Baturi, Archbishop of Cagliari and Secretary General of the Italian Episcopal Conference.
“We will not rest until abuse has been eradicated,” said Bishop Baturi, highlighting “the great efforts made to establish effective tools for recognising and combating paedophilia and abuse.” The data – from 7700 people encountered in the various initiatives promoted at the local level in 2020 to 23188 in 2022; from 48 contacts at the Counselling Centres in 2020 to 374 in 2022 – shows that “the fight against abuse passes through cultural promotion.” Therefore, Bishop Baturi noted, “the participation of all the components of the People of God and collaboration with civil society authorities and stakeholders is fundamental”.
Ketty Vaccaro of Censis presented a report on child abuse in Italy between 2001 and 2021 – from 2007 to 2022, there was a 23% increase in sexual offences. Such an increase can also be seen when it comes to online abuse. The session “Fare i conti con l’indicibile: le cifre del fenomeno in Italia” (Coming to terms with the unspeakable – Italy’s figures) saw speeches by Barbara Strappato of the Italian Postal Police and attorney Fabrizio Cacace on the world of sport. The session “Dove e quando: nei territori dell’abuso” (Where and when – Into the places of abuse) included talks by Prof. Michele Riondino of Telefono Azzurro on children’s rights and by Don Fortunato Di Noto of the Meter Association on the risks of the Web. Finally, during the session “Un fronte comune: l’impegno della Chiesa” (A common front – the Church’s commitment), Mgr. John Joseph Kennedy of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith reaffirmed the Church’s commitment against abuse.
Finally, a new multidisciplinary research project was launched, whose subject will be ascertained or presumed cases of sexual abuse of minors committed by clerics in Italy, as reported and dealt with within individual dioceses between 2001 and 2021. The pilot study will be carried out by two internationally recognised institutions – Istituto degli Innocenti in Florence and the Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Victimology and Security of the University of Bologna.
