Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo delivered a scathing critique of Pope Francis, condemning the Catholic Church’s history of clerical sex abuse and cover-ups. He demanded “concrete steps” to confront the past and prioritize victims over the institution during Francis’ visit to Belgium on Friday.
De Croo’s address was one of the most direct challenges a pope has faced during a foreign trip, breaking the usual norms of diplomatic protocol. King Philippe also voiced strong criticism, urging the Church to work “incessantly” to atone for its crimes and support victims’ healing.
The remarks underscored how deeply the abuse scandal still affects Belgium, where two decades of revelations have severely damaged the Church’s credibility and accelerated a decline in Catholicism. Francis, who applauded at the end of De Croo’s speech, was expected to meet privately with victims later in the day.
“Today, words alone do not suffice. We need concrete steps,” De Croo said, emphasizing that victims must be heard and centered, with a right to truth and acknowledgment of wrongdoing. Speaking at Laeken Castle before an audience of royals, church officials, diplomats, and politicians, he stressed, “When something goes wrong, we cannot accept cover-ups. To look forward, the Church must confront its past.”
Pope Francis Visits Belgium Amid Ongoing Abuse Scandal
Belgium’s abuse scandal has gradually unfolded over 25 years, with a significant turning point in 2010 when Bruges Bishop Roger Vangheluwe, the country’s longest-serving bishop, resigned without punishment after admitting to sexually abusing his nephew for 13 years. Francis only defrocked Vangheluwe earlier this year, ahead of his visit, in a bid to address lingering outrage.
The scandal resurfaced last year with the release of “Godvergeten” (Godforsaken), a four-part Flemish documentary that aired on public broadcaster VRT. For the first time, viewers saw Belgian victims openly discuss the extent of the abuse, the heinous nature of the crimes, and the systematic cover-up by the Catholic hierarchy.
