Pope Francis has asserted that the Catholic Church must “seek forgiveness” for the “scourge” of child sexual abuse during a speech to political and civil society leaders in Belgium, a nation burdened by years of scandals.
In his address that marked the beginning of his three-day visit to the country, Pope Francis condemned the “tragic instances of child abuse” as a blemish on the Church’s reputation.
“It is our shame and our humiliation,” he expressed to the audience gathered at the Laeken Palace royal residence.
“The Church must feel ashamed and seek forgiveness,” he added.
The meeting with approximately 15 victims, held at the Vatican’s diplomatic mission, was conducted with the “utmost discretion,” as stated by the Belgian Church.
This gathering was initiated after a powerful documentary last year reignited discussions surrounding Belgium’s abuse scandal, leading many new victims to step forward.
In an open letter published in the Le Soir newspaper this month, some victims requested that the pope address the issue of paedophilia and establish a process for financial reparations.
“Words alone are insufficient. Concrete actions must also be taken,” Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo remarked in the introduction to the pope’s speech.
The pontiff noted that the abuse crisis is “a scourge that the Church is tackling firmly and decisively by listening to and supporting those who have been hurt, in addition to implementing a prevention program on a global scale”.
Pope Francis has prioritized the fight against sexual assault within the Church as a central focus of his papacy, advocating for a “zero tolerance” policy following extensive abuse scandals worldwide.
“We observe how the bitter consequences of wrongdoing and criminality were intertwined with what was unfortunately the dominant mindset in all areas of society back then,” he stated.
Belgium’s HLN news outlet estimates that as many as 30,000 children were taken from their mothers in Belgium between 1945 and the 1980s.
Bishops in Belgium issued apologies in 2023 and requested an independent inquiry following new testimonies from women and individuals alleging they were “sold” by the Catholic Church to their adoptive families.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde welcomed Pope Francis to Belgium.
Mr. De Croo mentioned that child sexual abuse and forced adoptions have “severely undermined trust” between the Church and society.
In an indication of the work still ahead, the program for an open-air mass concluding Pope Francis’s trip on Sunday had to be altered at the last moment after it was discovered that the closing hymn was composed by a priest accused of sexual abuse.
This oversight led Archbishop Luc Terlinden, the head of the Belgian bishops’ conference, to acknowledge that the Church must improve its monitoring of cases and offenders.
“This presents a significant challenge for us, but we must approach it earnestly with the support of lawyers and psychologists,” he stated in an interview with a local broadcaster. The composer, who passed away this month, reportedly settled a sexual abuse case in 2002.
The Argentinian pope arrived in Belgium yesterday evening after spending the day in neighboring Luxembourg, where he advocated for international diplomacy amidst escalating global conflicts.
He was greeted by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, who hosted him this morning. He will meet with scholars at the Catholic University of Leuven in Dutch-speaking Flanders, which is celebrating its 600th anniversary next year, the official reason for the pontiff’s visit.
Tomorrow, during his 46th trip abroad, the pope will gather with clergy at the extensive Basilica of the Sacred Heart before engaging in discussions with students at Louvain-la-Neuve in French-speaking Wallonia, particularly regarding climate issues.
The last papal visit to Brussels occurred in 1995 when John Paul II attended the beatification of Saint Damien, who devoted his life to serving lepers.
Nearly 65% of Belgium’s population identifies as Christian, with 58% being Catholic, according to data from Leuven University.
However, these numbers are declining, reflecting a broader trend across Europe.
During his weekly general audience, Pope Francis expressed hopes that his visit could serve as “an opportunity for a renewed impetus of faith.”
