BRUSSELS (AP) 鈥� Belgium鈥檚 prime minister blasted Pope Francis for the Catholic Church鈥檚 and cover-ups, demanding 鈥渃oncrete steps鈥� to come clean with the past and put victims鈥� interests ahead those of the institution in a blistering welcome at the start of Francis鈥� visit on Friday.
The speech by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo was one of the most pointed ever directed at the pope during a foreign trips, where the genteel dictates of diplomatic protocol usually keeps outrage out of the public speeches. But even King Philippe had strong words for Francis, demanding the church work 鈥渋ncessantly鈥� to atone for the crimes and help victims heal.
Their tone underscored just how raw the abuse scandal still is in Belgium, where two decades of revelations of abuse and systematic cover-ups have and contributed to an overall decline in Catholicism and the influence of the once-powerful Catholic Church.
鈥淭oday, words alone do not suffice. We also need concrete steps,鈥� De Croo said. 鈥淰ictims need to be heard. They need to be at the center. They have a right to truth. Misdeeds need to be recognized,鈥� he said in front of an audience of royals, church officials, diplomats and politicians at Laeken Castle, the residence of Belgium鈥檚 royal family.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP鈥檚 with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Nicole Winfield And Raf Casert, The Associated Press
