Spiritual abuses. How to listen and accompany a cry

Webinar 16 giugno 2025
2.00 pm - 5.00 pm (Rome time)

The UISG (International Union of Superiors General) and the USG (Union of Superiors General) are jointly organizing a training webinar entitled: "Spiritual abuses. How to listen and accompany a cry."

• Date: June 16, 2025
• Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Rome time)
• Languages: EN, IT, ES, FR
• Registration: CLICK HERE

This webinar,with reverend Sr. TIZIANA MERLETTI new Secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, aims to explore, from a canonical perspective, the situations in which religious life is called to be vigilant so that healthy spiritual accompaniment does not degenerate into inappropriate behavior or actual abuse.

An opportunity to reflect together on how to prevent such situations, to listen with discernment, and to accompany others while respecting their freedom and dignity.

Speaker

Sr. Tiziana Merletti, originally from the Abruzzo region, has been a Sister of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor since 1986. She earned a law degree in 1984 from the G. D'Annunzio University in Teramo and a doctorate in canon law in 1992 from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.
In the early years of her religious life, she was involved in youth ministry, formation of young women in vocational discernment and novices. She taught canon law at the USMI inter-novitiate schools in Rome and Grottaferrata and courses on leadership at the Claretianum. She served as regional councillor and regional superior for Italy and Senegal (1993–2004), and as Superior General from 2004 to 2013, based in Brooklyn, New York.
Since 2016, she has been dedicated to the sensitive area of safeguarding minors and vulnerable persons who are victims of sexual, spiritual, power-related, and conscience abuse.
She is a member of the diocesan safeguarding service (S.In.Ai.) of the Diocese of Padua, a member of the Triveneto Regional Service for the Safeguarding of Minors and Vulnerable Persons, a member of the UISG-USG Safeguarding Commission, and of the Central Independent Commission of the Focolare Movement.
She provides canonical consultancy, facilitates councils and chapters—especially for women's religious institutes—offers leadership formation, and publishes in specialized journals.
On May 22, 2025, she was appointed by Pope Leo XIV as Secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.