Pope Francis’ child protection board said victims of clergy sexual abuse should have more access to information about their cases along with compensation, in its annual report published on Tuesday.

The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors issued its inaugural annual report detailing findings and recommendations for the Vatican’s handling of clergy sex abuse cases. President Cardinal Sean O’Malley stated that the Commission is working towards two principal goals: (1) a Church that is safe from internal abuse, and (2) a Church that effectively combats abuse and advocates for vulnerable children and adults.

The report emphasized the need for transparency and commented on the inadequate handling of clergy sex abuse cases by the Vatican’s sex abuse office. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is responsible for updating victims of abuse on the status of their cases. The Commission found that victims were not promptly and regularly updated on case developments. The report called for an increase in transparency and recommended a joint study with the Dicastery on how to achieve an adequate reporting system for victims. The Commission also called for the study of compensation policies for victims.

In addition, the report also called for a clearer definition of vulnerability in the Church’s safeguarding provisions, a streamlined process to remove a Church leader from office when necessary, and compensation policies that can provide reparations properly.

The Commission’s first annual report is a step towards increased accountability and transparency. Pope Francis issued an open letter in 2023 to the newly appointed head of the Dicastery in which he stated the need for special care in handling Dicastery responsibilities. The Commission’s report reaffirmed that a governing entity cannot properly serve its people without transparency.

On September 27, Pope Francis expressed that the Catholic Church was “ashamed and humiliated” by the clerical sexual abuse in Belgium during the Pope’s meeting with Belgian civil leaders in Brussels. The case is part of a global pattern of abuse within the Catholic Church, with Australia, the US, Ireland, Germany and many other countries revealing sexual abuse allegations against the Catholic Church. Reforms, including the criminalization of abuses and cover-ups within the Church, were carried out in 2021 to address the abuses.