Pope confirms and extends anti-abuse norms

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 25 - The Pope on Saturday confirmed and extended the Catholic Church's norms to prevent and counter sexual abuse against minors and vulnerable adults.
    Following nearly four years of experimentation and extensive consultation with bishops and the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, Pope Francis definitively promulgated an updated version of Motu proprio "Vos estis lux mundi," harmonizing legislative reforms introduced since 2019 and extending the norms to cover lay leaders of international associations of the faithful recognized by the Holy See.
    The revised norms will enter into force on April 30.
    Francis has taken several steps during his 10-year pontificate to crack down on sex abuse within the Church and related cover-ups, although victims' groups say more needs to be done.
    (ANSA).