Exactly one year after the World Congress “Child Dignity in the Digital World,” which closed on 6 October 2017 with the presentation of the Declaration on Child Dignity in the Digital World at a papal audience, the Centre for Child Protection (CCP) of the Pontifical Gregorian University launches its Licentiate in Safeguarding, a two-year master’s degree program in safeguarding.

To launch the Licentiate in Safeguarding, on Friday 5th October morning, Reinhard Cardinal Marx, Archbishop of Munich, will celebrate Mass at the Pontifical Gregorian University. The liturgical celebration will be followed by three conference talks, given by Cardinal Marx; Prof. Elizabeth J.

Letourneau, Director of the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA); and Major Dana Humaid, Director of the Project Management and Shared Services Office, Acting Director of the Child Protection Centre (General Secretariat of the Ministry of Interior, UAE). Afterwards, a reception will be offered for the attendees, who hail from various countries.

After the reception, a press conference will take place, with the participation of Cardinal Marx, Prof. Elizabeth J. Letourneau, Major Dana Humaid, and Fr. Hans Zollner SJ (the Gregorian’s Academic Vice Rector and CCP President), in order to present the core vision and aims of the Licentiate in Safeguarding.

The following day, Saturday 6th October evening, in the Church of St. Ignatius, the artistic première of “Transformation – a musical performance dedicated to the victims of abuse,” composed by Konstantia Gourzi and produced by the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, will feature the children’s choir of the Bavarian State Opera, the musicians of the Bavarian State Orchestra, and dancers.