Vatican News has announced the establishment of a child protection body aiming to support the Episcopal Conferences in creating new guidelines to safeguard minors. Pope Francis announced the decision following last year's Meeting for the Protection of Minors in the Church meeting, and has now set up two organizational elements of the body: the supervising committee and the members of the child protection task force. While the committee consists of prominent Archbishops, the protection group will be led by a coordinator, and many canon law experts representing a number of nationalities.
The protection force also has the important role of assisting the Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life to prepare and modernize their guidelines for the protection of minors. Its mandate is planned to last for two years starting 24 February 2020.