Catholic sex abuse
Due to allegations of abuse and cover-ups, the Vatican’s reputation has been damaged, which is why Pope Francis is in Belgium. Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic Church were urged to take more action by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and King Philippe. In response to the pope, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo delivered one of the sharpest speeches ever made while traveling abroad, a place where the courteous regulations of diplomatic protocol usually forbid public outrage. Nevertheless, Francis received a severe rebuke from King Philippe, who directed the church to work “incessantly” to atone for the crimes and assist in the victims’ recovery. The prime minister, Alexander De Croo, delivered one of the most scathing speeches ever against the pope on a foreign trip. Normally, the tactful rules of diplomatic protocol keep public displays of anger out of public speeches.
Even so, King Philippe had harsh words for Pope Francis, insisting that the church work “incessantly” to aid in the healing of victims and atone for the crimes committed.
Their tone highlighted how unadulterated the abuse scandal remains in Belgium, where the disclosures destroyed the hierarchy’s credibility and contributed to a general downturn in Catholicism and the Catholic Church’s once-dominant influence.
