Pope Francis welcomed a delegation of Belgian bishops led by Archbishop Luc Terlinden on Friday. The discussion covered the Pope’s recent visit to Belgium and the Church’s approach to handling sexual abuse cases.
“It was a fraternal conversation, and we were able to say everything, including the less good things,” Archbishop Terlinden shared.
The Pope, who still holds “fond memories” of his trip, especially enjoyed his time at the Hope event with young people. Reflecting on his experience, Terlinden noted, “The Pope really loves Belgium.”
A significant part of the meeting focused on the Church’s efforts to address sexual abuse. The delegation outlined current initiatives and upcoming plans in Belgium, and the Pope offered his encouragement and support for their approach.
The bishops also sensed the Pope’s strong motivation for the Church in Belgium to keep moving forward. “He is very aware of the secularisation in the country and encourages the bishops to continue the dialogue with society,” Terlinden said, underscoring Pope Francis’s commitment to maintaining open and proactive engagement with Belgian society.
Backlash for comments on abortion
Pope Francis undertook and four-day trip to Belgium in September to mark the 600th anniversary of the Catholic University of Leuven. Aside from facing controversy pertaining to sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, the Pope also sparked outrage over comments he made on abortion during his trip. He referred to abortion as “murder” and described abortion providers as “contract killers,” drawing widespread criticism from outgoing interior minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) and Christian Mutality (CM) Health Fund who described the Pope’s remarks as “insulting to all healthcare providers in abortion care”.
©PHOTO ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP
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