Pope Francis in a statement revealed the first eight names of officials who will sit on the commission, which was first announced on December 5 last year.
Among them is Marie Collins, an Irish abuse survivor who has been an outspoken campaigner for the rights of victims.
Other experts include the Archbishop of Boston, Sean Patrick O'Malley, who has been a vocal spokesman for US victims, as well as psychiatrists Catherine Bonnet, from France, and Sheila Hollins, from Britain.