Pope acknowledges shame over church's handling of abuse during Belgium visit

Pope Francis visited Belgium, where he faced strong criticism from King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander de Croo regarding the Catholic Church's handling of sexual abuse cases. Both leaders emphasized the need for acknowledgment and reparations for victims. During the visit, the Pope admitted the Church "must be ashamed" and met privately with 15 abuse survivors. He acknowledged the ongoing issues and reiterated the Church's commitment to addressing the problem decisively. The trip coincided with the 600th anniversary of two Catholic universities but was overshadowed by past abuse scandals. Survivors are calling for a universal compensation system, while the Belgian parliament investigates historical cover-ups.