During an open-air mass on Sunday in Belgium, Pope Francis made a strong plea to bishops, urging them not to cover up the sexual abuse of children.
Speaking to a large crowd of about 40,000 faithful gathered at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, the 87-year-old pontiff emphasized the need for accountability and transparency within the Church.
“There is no place for abuse, there is no place for covering up abuse,” Pope Francis said in his homily.
He called on bishops to condemn abusers and ensure they receive help to address their actions, describing the abuse as a “disease.”
During his stay, the pontiff was pressed by Belgian authorities and victims’ advocates on the Catholic Church’s handling of child sexual abuse, which was put back on the front pages by a hard-hitting documentary last year.
The Belgian documentary prompted around 200 more people to come forward with allegations that they were abused by members of the Church, adding to around 1,000 cases reported before then.
On Friday, Francis met with 17 victims. “I felt their suffering,” he told the Sunday mass.
“Evil must not be hidden, evil must be brought out into the open, let it be known,” he added, calling for all perpetrators to be judged.
The mass marked the conclusion of a three-day visit to Belgium, a country still grappling with the painful legacy of past abuse scandals involving the Church.
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