In his homily during Mass Sept. 29 in Brussels, Pope Francis strayed from his prepared text to urge bishops to hide nothing, “condemn abuses” and assist perpetrators in getting help.
In the presence of the late king's nephew, the current King Philippe, and others, the pope praised King Baudouin's courage to step down to “not sign a murderous law.”
The prime minister’s speech at the start of Pope Francis’ visit was one of the most pointed ever directed at the pope during a foreign trip and underscored just how raw the abuse scandal still is in Belgium.
During a brief visit to Luxembourg, Pope Francis recalled the nation's painful history and lauded its welcome to immigrants, encouraging its people "to be faithful to this legacy."