Following on from the publication of his report on the elderly in Rwanda Francis Davis attended the Vatican's first ever Congress on the needs of the elderly.

Francis Davis meeting the Pope

Gathering with pastoral workers from Africa, South America and Europe delegates also had the opportunity to meet with Pope Francis and hear him speaking on ageing and the needs of older people today.

Meanwhile, writing in the international Roman catholic weekly, The Tablet, Davis - who has served in government advisory roles on carers and disability and on the board of a top rates NHS community services Trust - set out some of the challenges faced by faith based and other NGO and civil society bodies in seeking to develop safeguarding policies for adults in a world where an increasing number of adults are 'at risk'. His article was welcomed by Vatican safeguarding expert Fr Hans Zollner and by others seeking to improve practice at the grassroots level.