Fr Antoine Farrugia

From Policy to Culture: building safer Church communities, Fr Antoine Farrugia

A Salesian, social worker and long-standing collaborator of the Safeguarding Commission, Fr Antoine Farrugia SDB reflects on how safeguarding practice has developed, what credible support looks like today, and how organisations can move from compliance to a living culture of care.

You have collaborated with the Safeguarding Commission over a number of years. How have you seen this work develop?

When I first became involved, the Commission was smaller and members were necessarily very hands-on in considering cases and developing structures and procedures. As safeguarding became more professionalised, assessment and the organisation and interpretation of evidence increasingly moved to dedicated staff with specialised expertise. The Advisory Board’s role developed accordingly towards oversight, reflection and accountability. What stands out most is the shared learning that has taken place. Safeguarding is now understood less as a response to allegations alone and more as a culture of care, accountability and prevention that should shape Church ministry and organisational life.

What safeguarding factors need stand out among children, young people and vulnerable adults today?

Some traditional protective factors, especially strong family and community networks, have weakened. At the same time, children and young people inhabit digital environments that many adults do not fully know. These bring opportunities, but also new risks and pressures. Modern life is also more fluid: young people move between family arrangements, communities, countries, social groups and online spaces. That can enrich life, but may also weaken belonging and leave people navigating important experiences alone. Safeguarding therefore requires attention not only to abuse and harm, but also to isolation, wellbeing, resilience and the quality of the relationships around a person.

What helps an organisation move from having policies on paper to creating a genuinely safer culture?

The shift begins when safeguarding stops being experienced as an external requirement and becomes something personal and close to home. Policies are essential, but a safer culture is created through everyday attitudes and relationships. Formation, reflection, accountability and a willingness to listen are all necessary. People need to feel responsible not only for avoiding wrongdoing themselves, but also for creating environments where dignity, trust, participation and respect can flourish. In the Salesian tradition, safeguarding is not simply about responding when something goes wrong; it is about fostering places where people can grow safely, confidently and with a sense of belonging.

How can people in pastoral, educational or youth settings become more attentive to signs that someone may be struggling or at risk?

We can easily miss what we are not actively looking for. Attentiveness therefore begins with formation and with developing an observant, reflective way of working. Safeguarding is not only about knowing procedures; it is also about noticing changes, patterns and circumstances that may point to concern. Genuine engagement matters. Young people do not always state their difficulties directly, so trust, attentive listening and interest in their lived experience are essential. Those who work with them also need to remain interested in the world they inhabit, including social trends and digital environments. Knowledge broadens our field of vision.

What role does formation play in safeguarding?

Formation is fundamental because safeguarding is not simply a body of information to learn. It shapes how people think, relate and exercise responsibility. Good formation develops awareness of boundaries, power dynamics, vulnerability and the responsibilities that come with positions of trust. It should also be ongoing rather than a one-off event. Over time, it strengthens self-awareness, attentiveness and accountability, and gives people greater confidence to respond appropriately when concerns arise. The better formed an organisation’s leaders, staff, volunteers and collaborators are, the more likely it is that concerns will be recognised early and people will feel safe enough to seek help.

What would you say to Church entities that want to strengthen safeguarding but are unsure where to begin?

Do not be overwhelmed by the size of the task. Begin by becoming familiar with safeguarding policies and guidance, and invest in good formation and training. Then put safeguarding into practice in concrete ways: make responsibilities clear, ensure people know how to raise concerns, discuss safeguarding regularly, review activities through a safeguarding lens, and provide appropriate training. Organisations do not need a perfect system before they begin. Each intentional step communicates that safeguarding matters. Ultimately, safeguarding is visible not only in policies, but in the quality of relationships, the attentiveness of leaders and the confidence people have to speak up.

Fr Kevin Schembri

Reflection: What do we mean by “vulnerability” in safeguarding? Fr Kevin Schembri

Church safeguarding increasingly speaks not only of minors, but also of vulnerable adults. Fr Kevin Schembri, academic, canon lawyer, and member of the Safeguarding Commission Review Board, explores why the term is so important and not as simple as it first appears.

The term “vulnerability” has become increasingly familiar in the Church’s norms and laws on safeguarding. Today, we speak not only of protecting “minors” or “persons who habitually have an imperfect use of reason”, but also of safeguarding “vulnerable persons” or “vulnerable adults”. Yet what exactly do we mean when we use these terms?

In recent years, the language of vulnerability has appeared in various Church documents on safeguarding. For instance, Pope Francis used the term “vulnerable adults” in his 2014 chirograph establishing the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and in his 2016 apostolic letter As a Loving Mother, on the possibility of removal from ecclesiastical office for grave reasons.

However, a legal definition of the term was introduced only in 2019. In Law no. CCXCVII of Vatican City State, entitled On the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons, and in the first version of Vos Estis Lux Mundi, Pope Francis opted for the term “vulnerable persons” and defined such persons as those “in a state of infirmity, physical or mental deficiency, or deprivation of personal liberty which, in fact, even occasionally, limits their ability to understand or to want or otherwise resist the offence.”

Despite this important development, when the section of the Code of Canon Law concerning canonical crimes and penal sanctions was revised in 2021, the new version avoided any reference to “vulnerable” subjects. The Dicastery for Legislative Texts later explained that the expression had been avoided because it referred to a notion “not yet well-defined or doctrinally shared in the broad ambit in which canon law is in force.”

By contrast, the revised Vos Estis Lux Mundi of 2023 used the term again. This time, however, Francis reverted to the use of “vulnerable adult” rather than “vulnerable person” and distinguished the category of the “vulnerable adult” from that of “a person who habitually has imperfect use of reason”. The revised law, however, retained the same definition introduced in 2019.

I mention these recent developments to highlight both the evolving nature and the complexity of the terminology. At the same time, they also reflect a growing awareness in the Church that attention cannot be directed solely towards the conduct of the person accused of abuse, but must also take into account the conditions and circumstances of the person who may be harmed. Moreover, when considering the person who may be harmed, safeguarding cannot focus only on minors or persons who habitually have an imperfect use of reason, but must also extend to other vulnerable adults.

Vulnerability should not be equated solely with an intrinsic or permanent characteristic of a particular person or group, but also depends on a person’s practical circumstances, especially those that may limit their ability to understand, exercise their freedom, or resist an offence. This becomes especially important in contexts of dependency, authority, and imbalances of power, even though the existence of such contexts does not, in itself, necessarily make a person legally vulnerable.

Beyond determining who falls within a particular legal category, the Church is called always to show particular concern for weak and defenceless persons, whose freedom and dignity must be respected and protected by all.

For a recent exploration of this topic, see John Paul Kimes, “The Concept of ‘Vulnerable Person’ in the Current Law of the Church: Current Challenges and Future Proposals,” The Jurist 82 (2026): 1-60.

Dr Patricia Bonello

Research, Care and Accountability: in conversation with Dr Patricia Bonello

Dr Patricia Bonello is a social worker and Head of DISCERN, the Archdiocese of Malta’s research institute. Dr Bonello reflects on DISCERN’s collaboration with the Safeguarding Commission and its recent research concerning the care and accompaniment of Subjects of Complaint (SOCs).

This research marks one of the first formal collaborations between DISCERN and the Safeguarding Commission. From your perspective, what made this collaboration important?

DISCERN, as the Archdiocese’s Institute for Research on the Signs of the Times, is firmly committed to collaborating with entities both within and beyond the Archdiocese on research projects related to the Catholic Church in Malta. Safeguarding within Church communities is becoming increasingly important and, locally, the Safeguarding Commission is at the forefront of safeguarding initiatives, giving a clear sign that the Church needs to be a safe space for everybody and taking concrete action to make it safer.

When approached by the Safeguarding Commission to undertake this research, DISCERN therefore welcomed the opportunity, both to strengthen the evidence-based dimension of the Commission’s work and as a way of contributing to a safer Church.

What has the experience of conducting this research been like so far, especially when listening to different voices and contexts within Church life?

The care of Subjects of Complaint (SOCs), which was the focus of this research, is a sensitive and complex area. Throughout the research, particular care was given to listening attentively and respectfully to the different experiences and perspectives that emerged.

One consistent message was that the safety, care and needs of victims and survivors must remain the central priority in safeguarding. At the same time, participants reflected on the challenges involved in responding appropriately to SOCs and in supporting those who accompany them through safeguarding processes.

The research has highlighted the importance of clear structures of care, appropriate support, and a safeguarding approach that holds together compassion, accountability and the prevention of further harm. It has also shown the value of listening carefully to the different people affected by safeguarding processes and recognising the complexity of the situations involved.

Without going into the findings themselves, were there any aspects of the research process that helped you see safeguarding work in a new or deeper way?

The research reinforced how important it is for safeguarding systems to provide appropriate care and support to everyone affected by a safeguarding process, while keeping the safety and needs of victims and survivors at the centre.

It also highlighted the complexity of accompaniment. Supporting a Subject of Complaint (SOC) can require careful boundaries, clarity of roles and appropriate structures, particularly where several people or communities are affected by the same situation.

More broadly, the research showed that safeguarding is not only about responding to individual concerns. It also involves supporting the wider communities affected, strengthening accountability and helping to create conditions in which further harm is less likely to occur.

Why is research of this kind important for strengthening safeguarding practice, policy and accountability in Malta and Gozo?

Effective safeguarding depends on clear policies, sound practice and strong structures of accountability. Research helps ensure that these are informed not only by principles and standards, but also by the experiences of people involved in safeguarding processes.

This project also explored an area that can sometimes receive less attention: appropriate care for the Subject of Complaint. An SOC is a person against whom a safeguarding concern or allegation has been raised; the term does not in itself mean that the allegation has been substantiated.

Respect for the dignity of an SOC does not lessen the priority given to victims and survivors, nor does support replace accountability. Where harmful behaviour is established, appropriate support can form part of a wider response that promotes responsibility, addresses risk and seeks to prevent further harm.

Research of this kind can therefore help safeguarding practice continue to develop in ways that are evidence-based, accountable and attentive to the complexity of real situations.

As this work moves towards being shared more widely, what do you hope people will take from the research and from this collaboration?

I hope the research helps people recognise that the care of Subjects of Complaint is a difficult but necessary part of a comprehensive safeguarding response. Appropriate support can be provided while maintaining the safety, dignity and priority owed to victims and survivors.

The collaboration between DISCERN and the Safeguarding Commission also shows the value of bringing research and safeguarding practice into conversation. Research can offer a critical and independent perspective, while safeguarding practice brings experience of the realities and challenges encountered in this field.

By working together, the two organisations can continue to examine difficult questions carefully and constructively, with the wider aim of strengthening safeguarding practice within the Church.

For more information about DISCERN, please visit: https://discern.mt

Mr Mark Pellicano, Head of Safeguarding

Message from the Head of Safeguarding, Mr Mark Pellicano

Since our last newsletter, several areas of work that were still developing have progressed considerably. We are now in the final phase of reviewing the recommendations for the revised policies and procedures, taking into consideration the consultations held with various stakeholders over recent months.

This has also been a period of widening collaboration. We were pleased to welcome for a two-week placement a doctoral candidate in Safeguarding from the Pontifical Gregorian University, who works closely with the Jesuits and another student who is undertaking the Licentiate course. Currently, a priest who is likewise pursuing the Licentiate in Safeguarding at the Pontifical Gregorian University is undertaking a three-month placement with the Safeguarding Commission. These placements provide valuable opportunities for mutual learning and exchange, while further strengthening our links with international safeguarding formation and academic institutions.

These exchanges sit alongside growing collaboration with dioceses and safeguarding bodies abroad, and with public and private-sector stakeholders in Malta. Increasingly, part of the Commission’s work is not only to provide safeguarding expertise, but also to help connect organisations and individuals with good-quality training, specialist knowledge and appropriate support.

Various important meetings were also held with Ordinaries, priests and religious, and lay communities to enhance the work of the Safeguarding Commission within the Church in Malta. These meetings provided valuable opportunities to discuss emerging safeguarding needs, strengthen cooperation, and identify areas where further support and guidance may be required. They also contributed to fostering a shared responsibility for safeguarding across the different structures and communities of the Church.

Our collaboration with DISCERN has also continued to develop, contributing research and reflection to areas of safeguarding practice that require careful attention and evidence-based thinking.

Safeguarding work requires continuous review and development, particularly to ensure that training remains responsive to emerging needs. For this reason, the Safeguarding Commission continues to collaborate closely with the Pastoral Formation Institute to further develop safeguarding formation and address the different training needs within the Church.

The developments outlined reflect the Safeguarding Commission’s continued efforts to strengthen safeguarding practice within the Church.  In the coming months, our focus will remain on finalising the ongoing review of policies and procedures, developing new safeguarding courses, and strengthening the partnerships that support our work. Most importantly, we remain committed to ensuring that safeguarding structures and practices continue to respond effectively to emerging needs and developments within the Church.

Mark Pellicano
Head of Safeguarding

CARLY-PIC-expanded

Q&A with Lead Safeguarding Officer, Ms Carly Attard Zarb

Ahead of the International Safeguarding Conference at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Ms Carly Attard Zarb reflects on safeguarding leadership, social work, prevention, and the formation of future practitioners.

You are facilitating one of the online working groups before the International Safeguarding Conference in Rome this June. What has that experience been like?

The preparatory phase has been an enriching and formative experience, bringing together practitioners from diverse cultural and professional contexts with a shared commitment to advancing safeguarding for children and vulnerable adults. It has provided a valuable platform for the exchange of knowledge, good practice, and perspectives across different systems and realities.

Representing the Safeguarding Commission of the Church in Malta in this context has been both an honour and a responsibility. I anticipate that both the preparatory work and the conference itself will highlight that, despite contextual differences, the core principles and values underpinning safeguarding remain universally shared and consistently upheld.

What does being Lead Safeguarding Officer involve?

While our safeguarding practice is inherently collaborative and grounded in shared responsibility, the role of Lead Safeguarding Officer has required a heightened level of accountability, particularly in overseeing investigations and assessments.

This has necessitated meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that processes are thoroughly followed and that safeguarding principles are consistently translated into practice. The role has also underscored the importance of supporting and guiding the team, bringing the different teams together, while working closely with and under the guidance of the Head of Safeguarding to uphold the highest professional standards.

Ultimately, it has demonstrated that leadership in safeguarding is defined by integrity, responsibility, and a steadfast commitment to those whose lives are impacted by our work.

How are safeguarding and social work connected?

Safeguarding is often narrowly perceived as the remit of child protection services or reduced to a matter of procedural compliance. In reality, it is a shared, cross-sectoral responsibility that extends beyond responding to risk once statutory thresholds are met.

Safeguarding encompasses prevention, early identification, ethical responsibility, responsiveness, and accountability. It converges with social work through shared values, principles, and ethical foundations. Safeguarding, similarly to social work, also demands a distinctly proactive and preventative approach, moving beyond risk management towards a culture of awareness, care, responsibility, and continuous improvement in practice.

What do you wish you had known about safeguarding at the start of your career?

Despite its inherent challenges, safeguarding can have a profound and meaningful impact when grounded in research, evidence-based practice, multidisciplinary collaboration, and strong ethical responsibility.

Experience has shown me that, when these elements are in place, safeguarding practice can truly make a difference in people’s lives and can become very rewarding on a professional-practice level.

What should Malta emphasise when forming future social workers in safeguarding?

I would advocate for greater emphasis on practical exposure to safeguarding preventative approaches, policy development, and safeguarding risk management procedures.

Strengthening these areas would better equip future social workers with the skills and insight needed to engage with safeguarding not only as a reactive function, but as a proactive and strategic aspect of professional practice.

Ms Carly Attard Zarb is Lead Safeguarding Officer at the Safeguarding Commission of the Church in Malta. Her work involves safeguarding investigations and assessments, multidisciplinary collaboration, prevention, policy awareness, and risk management.

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Safeguarding: A Decade in Youth Ministry, by Benjamin Flores Martin

After a decade in youth ministry, I have witnessed the incredible “self-giving” sacrifice of hundreds of youth leaders across our island. These volunteers accompany young people through the most delicate stages of human development, adolescence and youth. However, true accompaniment requires more than just a willing heart, or creative programs it also requires a commitment to create safe environments (physically and relationally) as a priority.

Young people are not monoliths. Every young person carries their unique story, and every youth group has its own rhythm, style and focus. Because of this complexity, our focus must remain focus on the holistic formation and growth of every young person rather than the success of the organization itself.

In my experience, the best youth leaders are those who view safeguarding not as a checklist of “red tape,” but as the creation of a space of sacred encounter. The late Pope Francis often has referred to the heart of young people as sacred ground in which we must take off our shoes to draw nearer to them. When we create clear boundaries and have protocols in place, we are telling young people: “You are precious to us, and your wellbeing matters more than our organisation itself.” This is an essential foundation for discipleship which is genuine and has a holistic approach.

At a young age, weekend events like live-ins and retreats, become the building blocks of community life within the group, but they are also where the highest level of vigilance is required. These are often the first times a young person sleeps away from home or feels the freedom to voice deep vulnerabilities.

Being trained in safeguarding empowers a leader to:

  1. Anticipate Risks: Proactively managing the environment so accidents or misconduct are prevented.
  2. Listen Attentively: Recognizing “red flags” in conversations that a young person might be disclosing.
  3. Respond Correctly: Knowing exactly who to call so that the leader is never carrying a disclosure alone.

Adapting to current safeguarding standards included in our policy can feel like a hurdle with the limited time volunteers have on their hands but it is nonetheless an essential one. Our desire to help young people explore their dreams and talents must be matched by our commitment to protect them.

Let us continue to strive for a ministry where every young person knows that when they enter our doors, or join our retreats, they are entering a space where they are truly safe to grow.

Mr Benjamin Flores Martin began his youth ministry as a volunteer in a local youth group, and he has pursued advanced studies in spiritual accompaniment, theology, religious education, and youth ministry. He formerly served as Delegate for Youth at the Archdiocese of Malta.

Mr Mark Pellicano, Head of Safeguarding

Message from Mark Pellicano, Head of Safeguarding

Welcome to this latest edition of the Safeguarding Commission’s newsletter for the Church in Malta. Through this newsletter, we continue to share updates, reflections, and developments that support our wider commitment to building a consistent safeguarding culture across all areas of Church life.

Earlier this month, we published the Safeguarding Commission’s Annual Report for 2025. The report highlighted the Commission’s work in prevention and training, support and advocacy for victims, preliminary investigations, and risk assessment. The public and media response showed clearly that safeguarding remains a matter of significant importance, and that this conversation must continue with openness, transparency, and responsibility.

In June, the Safeguarding Commission will participate in the International Safeguarding Conference at the Pontifical Gregorian University. This will provide an important opportunity to engage with safeguarding professionals, Church representatives, researchers, and practitioners from across the world, while continuing to learn from international developments and share our own experience and practice.

We have also begun our first outreach project, Listening Spaces, in collaboration with the Chaplaincy of the University of Malta. This pilot initiative provides a structured and reflective space for dialogue, awareness, and engagement around safeguarding within a Church-related setting.

We recently held a productive meeting with the Commissioner for Children ahead of the development of a child-friendly version of the Safeguarding Policy. This initiative reflects our commitment to making safeguarding accessible, understandable, and meaningful for children and young people.

These developments form part of the Commission’s wider work, including the ongoing review of the Safeguarding Policy ahead of its launch in November, research in collaboration with Discern, and continued awareness-raising through radio, online, and social media initiatives.

The Safeguarding Commission also remains committed to supporting organisations and institutions that seek consultation on safeguarding policies, practices, and structures. This support is offered to the private sector, voluntary organisations, different faith communities, and other dioceses.

We consider this work part of our mission to contribute to the Universal Church through the sharing of our experience and safeguarding practice. This is especially meaningful in light of the recognition reflected in the Annual Report of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Tutela Minorum, which encouraged other Episcopal Conferences to refer to our guidelines as an example of good practice.

Safeguarding formation also remains a central part of the Commission’s work. A programme of training sessions is taking place between May and November, including training with parish communities, chaplaincies, schools, and religious communities. Upcoming sessions include formation for all chaplains, as well as safeguarding training within educational and pastoral settings.

Through this newsletter, we aim to maintain regular communication about upcoming events, training sessions, key initiatives, and developments in the Commission’s work. We hope it will help sustain a culture of safety, accountability, trust, and wellbeing across the Church in Malta.