By Joshua McElwee and Marine Strauss
In a rare move, Belgium's King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called on Pope Francis to take concrete steps to address sexual abuse by Catholic clergy during his visit to Belgium.
The issue of clerical abuse has been brought to the forefront by a television documentary series and a parliamentary investigation, with over 700 complaints and reports of abuse in Belgium since 2012.
During a meeting with politicians at the royal Castle of Laeken in Brussels, Pope Francis acknowledged the Church's failures in addressing abuse and emphasized the need for concrete action to prevent further harm.
Francis has made addressing abuse by clergy a priority of his papacy, expelling former bishop Roger Vangheluwe from the priesthood in March for his admitted abuses.
The pope was also expected to meet with abuse survivors to hear their experiences and further address the issue.
Both the king and the prime minister highlighted the Church's historic role in controversial practices, such as forcing single mothers to give up their babies for adoption, and called for justice and reparations for those affected.
Overall, the visit of Pope Francis to Belgium has reignited discussions on clerical abuse and the Church's responsibility in addressing past wrongdoings.
Analysis: Pope Francis faced mounting pressure from Belgium's leaders to take concrete action on clerical abuse during his visit. The issue of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy has long plagued the Church, and the pope's responses and actions are closely scrutinized. The call for justice and reparations for victims highlights the ongoing impact of past abuses. This renewed focus on clerical abuse serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and prevention measures within the Church to ensure the safety and well-being of its members.