Belgian PM blasts Pope Francis for Catholic Church’s sex abuse cover-up legacy in blistering welcome

Belgian PM, king criticise Pope Francis to his face over church's sex abuse cover-up

Belgium's prime minister on Friday blasted Pope Francis to his face for the Catholic Church's horrific legacy of clerical sex abuse and cover-ups in his country, demanding "concrete steps" to come clean with the past and put victims' interests over those of the church.Alexander De Croo's blistering welcome speech at the start of Francis' visit was one of the most pointed ever directed at the pope during a foreign trip, where the genteel dictates…

Belgian PM demands 'concrete steps' over Catholic sex abuse

Pope Francis is in Belgium after revelations of abuse and cover-ups have damaged the Vatican's credibility. Both Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and King Philippe urged the pontiff and the Catholic Church to do more.

REPORT - The firmness of the remarks made by King Philippe and the Prime Minister led François to improvise on Friday morning to ask for “forgiveness” and to say the “shame” of the Church. This was not planned in his initial speech.

ROME.- “The Church must be ashamed and ask for forgiveness”. In his first speech in Belgium, one of the countries in Europe most impacted by the scandal of sexual abuse of minors among the clergy, the Pope was immediately struck by the most dramatic issue of this tour and made a new “mea Culpa” about this “scourge” which, he said, “the Church is facing decisively and firmly, listening to and accompanying wounded people and implementing a compreh…

During his visit to Belgium, Pope Francis asked the victims of sexual violence for forgiveness.

Belgian king, PM blast Pope Francis for Catholic Church’s sex abuse cover-up legacy

BRUSSELS  -- Belgium's prime minister on Friday blasted Pope Francis for the Catholic Church's horrific legacy of clerical sex abuse and cover-ups in his country, demanding "concrete steps" to come clean with the past and put victims' interests first.