The Society of Jesus is deeply committed to fostering a culture of safeguarding. In the current Apostolic Plan of the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials (JCEP), the major superiors pledged to promote this culture within their communities and works by sharing training, resources, and best practices. This commitment also includes the ongoing formation of the major superiors themselves.

As the Universal Apostolic Preferences remind us, we are called to “help eliminate abuses inside and outside the Church, seeking to ensure that victims are heard and properly helped, that justice is done, and that harm is healed.”

With this in mind, JCEP organized a webinar on safeguarding, held on 3 September 2026, with more than 15 major superiors and their socii participating.

This session focused on the sensitive and complex topic of communications and crisis management, both externally and internally, during and after the process. The keynote speaker presented practices and experiences of the Irish Province, while three other contributors shared insights and experiences from different provinces and regions across Europe.

A central theme running through all the presentations was the importance of transparency and accountability, whilst acknowledging the sensitivities and the pitfalls around communicating abuse within and on behalf of the Society of Jesus. Participants highlighted the need to uphold and prioritise justice for victims while respecting the dignity of every person, acknowledging that abuse leaves lifelong consequences for all involved.

The discussions also underscored the need for superiors to have expert support, clear guidelines, and well-defined protocols in place, as well as the strength and professionalism of accompanying teams and companions.