Pope Francis Visits Belgium to Address Clergy Abuse

Pope Francis is set to visit Belgium following a four-nation tour in Asia, with his trip overshadowed by the country's troubled history of clergy sex abuse and cover-ups. Survivors have penned an open letter asking for the pope to implement a universal reparations system and take responsibility for the devastation caused by abuse within the church. During his visit, which includes meetings with abuse survivors, Francis is expected to confront the church's legacy of silence and secrecy regarding these issues. Additionally, Belgium's parliament is conducting investigations into past judicial failures related to clergy abuse cases. The pope's visit, coinciding with the 600th anniversary of Belgium's Catholic universities, will also address immigration and climate concerns. Notably, the visit comes as the church grapples with the fallout from a recent documentary that has reignited public attention on the abuse scandal.