The Istituto degli Innocenti in Florence and the Centre for Victim Research and Security in Bologna are responsible for the scientific investigation.
They are recognised as independent institutions.
The initiative is based on the Church's guidelines on dealing with abuse from 2019 and the action plan from 2022, which also provide for the strengthening of local networks, the establishment of contact points for those affected and cooperation with public institutions.
The bishops also renewed their commitment to take all steps to ensure the safety of minors and vulnerable adults.
First abuse study in Italian diocese
On Monday, the diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone was the first of over 200 Italian dioceses to present a study on sexual abuse by priests.
The investigation, carried out by the Munich law firm Westpfahl-Spilker-Wastl, began with the reform of the diocesan boundaries in 1964 and ended in 2023.
The examination of around 1,000 files identified 67 cases of abuse and 59 victims between the ages of 8 and 14.
Of the 41 accused priests, the allegations were proven with a high degree of probability or certainty in 29 cases; in the case of 12 clerics, they could not be sufficiently assessed.