Pope Francis on Sunday made a strong plea to bishops, urging them not to cover up the sexual abuse of children in the Church.
The Pope stated this during an open-air mass on Sunday in Belgium, while speaking to a large crowd of about 40,000 faithful.
Addressing the faithful at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, the 87-year-old pontiff emphasized the need for accountability and transparency within the Church.
He said, “There is no place for abuse, there is no place for covering up abuse.”
The Pope, therefore, called on bishops to condemn abusers. He urged them to ensure the perpetrators receive help to address their actions. The Pope described the abuse as a “disease.”
The Pontiff was reacting to Belgian authorities and victims’ advocates on the Catholic Church’s handling of child sexual abuse.
Recall that the issue was put back on the front pages by a hard-hitting documentary in 2023.
According to reports, the Belgian documentary prompted around 200 more people to come forward with allegations that they were abused by members of the Church. It also added that around 1,000 cases reported before then.
However, on Friday in Brussel, Francis met with 17 victims. And on Sunday during mass, he said, “I felt their suffering.”
“Evil must not be hidden, evil must be brought out into the open. Let it be known,” he added,
He, therefore, called for all perpetrators to be judged.
The mass marked the Pope’s conclusion of a three-day visit to Belgium.
Belgium is a country still grappling with the painful legacy of past abuse scandals involving the Church.
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