Fr. Sabbarese named reference person for the protection of minors in the Vatican

Vatican News

On December 2, 2022, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Vicar General of His Holiness for Vatican City, appointed Scalabrinian Father Luigi Sabbarese, reference person for the protection of minors in the Vatican.

According to a statement from the Vicariate of the Vatican City, the post has been assigned pursuant the Motu Proprio of the Holy Father "On the protection of minors and vulnerable persons" of 26 March 2019 and, in particular, of the "Guidelines for the protection of minors and vulnerable" in the Vicariate.

The reference person for the protection of minors - continues the statement - has the task of coordinating and verifying the implementation of the Guidelines, "so that, within the Vicariate, the community is always respectful and aware of the rights and needs of minors and mindful of preventing any form of violence or abuse, especially through training activities for pastoral workers".

Furthermore, if necessary , the reference person, "will take particular care to welcome and accompany those who claim to have been victims of exploitation, sexual abuse or ill-treatment, as well as their family members", making use of the professional support of the Accompaniment Service, managed by the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Governorate, and of the Labour Office of the Apostolic See (ULSA).

Father Sabbarese’s biography

Father Sabbarese, was born in Salerno (Italy) on 7 December 1962, and was ordained a priest on 5 August 1989.

He currently serves as: Judicial Vicar of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of Vatican City (appointed by Pope Francis in September 2022); Attorney General of the Scalabrinian Congregation; Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Urbaniana University; consultant at the Dicasteries for Evangelization and of  the Oriental Churches; Legal Secretary of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.