Pope Francis condemns Catholic Church's 'shameful' abuse in Belgium

euronews (in English)

Earlier on Friday, Belgium's prime minister blasted the pontiff for the Catholic Church's horrific legacy, demanding "concrete steps" to come clean with the past and put victims' interests ahead of those of the institution.

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00:00Pope Francis said the Catholic Church must be ashamed and seek forgiveness for the decades-long

00:06clerical sex abuse scandal that tore through Belgium and affected over 500 victims.

00:12The remarks were delivered in response to blistering criticism from the country's Prime

00:17Minister, Alexander de Kruy.

00:19De Kruy stated, quote, victims need to be heard and there needs to be justice, end quote.

00:25This is the shame, the shame that today we all have to take a hand and ask forgiveness

00:37to solve the problem.

00:39The remarks came off the back of the Pope's second day of a four-day trip to the Western

00:43European country aimed at drumming up support for the Catholic Church.

00:48The pontiff also met with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde at the Belgian royal family's

00:53official residence.

00:54He then visited the Brussels Morales neighborhood, making a special pit stop to a retirement

00:59home.

01:00Nuns from the Sisters of Charity waited with dozens of elderly people who cheered and sang

01:06as the Pope entered.

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