Rome ( CNN ) -- Pope Francis is creating a commission to prevent the abuse of minors and to support victims of abuse , Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley announced Thursday in Rome . The new commission is expected to tell church officials to collaborate with civil authorities and report cases of abuse , O'Malley said . But he also said that the church has focused on the judicial aspect of sexual abuse in the past , and that Pope Francis now wants to focus on the pastoral side , and caring for victims . The Pope has not yet chosen the members of the new commission but it will be international in composition and include experts , O'Malley added . The eight-member Council of Cardinal Advisers , which has been in Rome since Monday meeting with the Pope , proposed the special commission and the Pope accepted it , O'Malley said . The cardinals , who come from around the world , are helping the Pope with Vatican reform . The Vatican news service released a statement outlining the commission 's lines of action , including a look at guidelines , priest `` formation '' programs , codes of conduct , and screening candidates for priesthood . No timetable for the establishment of the panel was given . Pope Francis calls for big changes in Roman Catholic Church . Awaiting Pope 's response . Observers have been awaiting Pope Francis ' response to a scandal that has generated deep mistrust in the church and driven many Catholics away from the faith , particularly in the United States . At a meeting with Dutch bishops earlier this week , the Pope spoke of the victims . `` I want to express my compassion and to ensure my prayers to all victims of sexual abuse and their families , '' he said , according to the Vatican news service . However SNAP -- the U.S.-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests -- said the creation of `` another commission surveying bishops and recommending policies is meaningless . '' `` It 's like offering a Band-Aid to an advanced cancer patient , '' SNAP said in a statement . `` Only decisive action helps , not more studies and committees and promises . ... Clergy sex crimes should be dealt with by secular authorities . '' In July , Pope Francis announced a law making it a crime to abuse children sexually or physically on Vatican grounds . The acts were already crimes under church law , but are now specifically outlawed within the Vatican city-state , which is home to hundreds of people . The legislation also covers child prostitution and the creation or possession of child pornography . ACLU , Michigan woman sue Catholic Bishops over hospital rules . CNN 's Eric Marrapodi and Marie-Louise Gumuchian contributed to this report .
The commission 's purpose is to prevent the abuse of minors and support victims of abuse . Comment: The proposal came from the Council of Cardinal Advisers , helping Pope on reform .