Pope Francis, after Belgian criticism, says church has 'no place for abuse' 

BRUSSELS — 

Pope Francis connected Sunday wrapped up a play travel to Belgium, wherever helium faced immoderate of the strongest disapproval yet levied during 1 of his overseas trips.

The 87-year-old pontiff was pressed by high-profile figures astatine 3 of the 5 large events connected his three-day sojourn successful antithetic and sometimes fierce connection for a papal trip.

In a gathering with Belgian dignitaries connected Friday, some King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called for much factual enactment to assistance survivors of maltreatment by Catholic clergy. And successful aboriginal events astatine 2 Catholic universities, officials denounced his stance connected the relation of women successful the religion and society.

Francis did not specifically notation the criticisms astatine his past lawsuit successful Belgium connected Sunday, a solemnisation of Mass astatine Brussels' King Baudouin shot stadium. But the pope did adhd to the prepared substance for his sermon and made a beardown condemnation of Catholic clergy abuse.

"There is nary spot for abuse," the pontiff said, drafting scattered applause from the estimated 37,000 attendees. "There is nary spot for the cover-up of abuse.

"I inquire everyone, bash not screen up abuse. I inquire bishops, bash not screen up abuse."

The Belgian tour, which started with a one-day sojourn to adjacent Luxembourg, was Francis's 46th travel overseas since being elected arsenic pope successful March 2013. The sojourn was meant to absorption connected the 600th day of the 2 Catholic universities.

Francis has besides faced specified disapproval connected erstwhile tours, particularly connected the contented of clergy intersexual abuse. On a travel to Chile successful 2018 groups of demonstrators protested extracurricular his events and Catholic churches were attacked earlier his visit.

But the pope, person of the world's 1.4 cardinal Catholics, is not usually confronted straight successful nationalist by governmental leaders oregon Catholic officials organizing his events.

Professors and students astatine UCLouvain, wherever Francis gave a speech connected Saturday afternoon, issued a property merchandise moments aft the pope had finished speaking, saying they wanted to explicit their "disapproval" of his views.

The pope's code astatine the assemblage mostly called for planetary enactment connected clime change, but helium besides responded to a missive to him from students and professors that had asked astir the Catholic Church's teaching connected women.

Francis emphasized that the church, which bans ordination of women to the priesthood, was not tally similar a corporation. He described women arsenic having "a fertile welcome, attraction [and] captious devotion."

The Vatican did not respond to the university's statement.

Francis apologized connected Friday for intersexual maltreatment by Catholic clergy successful Belgium, saying the Church indispensable "be ashamed and inquire forgiveness." He besides held a two-hour gathering with a radical of survivors, who pressed him to supply amended fiscal compensation for victims.