Pope Francis Criticized During Belgium Visit

Pope Francis faced strong criticism during his visit to Belgium, particularly over the Catholic Church's handling of clerical sex abuse and its views on women and the LGBTQ+ community. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and King Philippe demanded concrete actions from the Church to address and atone for past abuses, emphasizing the need for justice and reparations for victims. At UCLouvain, a Catholic university, both students and professors condemned the Pope's conservative stance on women's roles in society. Francis met with abuse survivors, expressing remorse and the Church's shame, and vowed to prevent future abuses. The trip, intended to celebrate the 600th anniversary of two Catholic universities, was overshadowed by the ongoing scandal and calls for reform.