‘No place for abuse,’ says Pope Francis as Belgium puts sexual exploitation by clergy in the spotlight

Brussels: Pope Francis wrapped up a weekend trip to Belgium on Sunday, where he faced the harshest criticism he has received on any of his foreign trips to date.

The 87-year-old pope was pressured by high-profile figures in unusual and sometimes fierce language for a papal trip at three of the five major events during his three-day visit.

During a meeting with Belgian dignitaries on Friday, both King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called for more concrete action to help survivors of abuse by Catholic clergy. And at subsequent events at two Catholic universities, officials denounced his stance on the role of women in the church and society.

Francis made no specific mention of the criticism during his last event in Belgium on Sunday, a celebration of Mass at Brussels’ King Baudouin football stadium. But the pope added to the prepared text for his homily and strongly condemned abuse by Catholic clergy.

“There is no place for abuse,” the pope said, drawing scattered applause from the estimated 37,000 attendees. “There is no place for covering up abuse.

“I ask everyone: do not cover up abuse. I ask bishops: do not cover up abuse.”

The Belgian tour, which began with a one-day visit to nearby Luxembourg, was Francis’ 46th trip abroad since he was elected pope in March 2013. The visit was intended to highlight the 600th anniversary of the two Catholic universities.

Francis has also faced similar criticism during previous tours, especially around sexual abuse by clergy. During a 2018 trip to Chile, groups of demonstrators protested outside his events and Catholic churches were attacked before his visit.

But the pope, the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, is not usually directly confronted in public by political leaders or Catholic officials who organize his events.

Professors and students at UCLouvain, where Francis gave a speech on Saturday afternoon, issued a press release shortly after the pope finished speaking saying they wanted to express their “disapproval” of his views.

The pope’s university speech largely called for global action on climate change, but he also responded to a letter to him from students and professors who had raised questions about the Catholic Church’s teaching on women.

Francis emphasized that the church, which bans the ordination of women to the priesthood, was not run like a business. He described women as having “fertile reception, care (and) vital devotion”.

The Vatican did not respond to the university’s statement.

Francis apologized Friday for sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in Belgium, saying the Church “must be ashamed and ask for forgiveness.” He also held a two-hour meeting with a group of survivors, who pressured him to provide better financial compensation for the victims.