Pope Francis pledges support for victims of sexual abuse during Belgium visit
Francis acknowledged that abuse had undermined the faith and created ‘atrocious suffering and wounds’
Pope Francis promised on Saturday to “offer all the help we can” to aid victims of clergy sexual abuse heal after victims told him first-hand of the trauma that had shattered their lives and left many in poverty and mental misery.
Francis’ visit to Belgium has been dominated by the abuse scandal, with King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo both blasting the Catholic Church’s dreadful legacy of priests raping and molesting children and its decades-long cover-up of the crimes.
Francis met for more than two hours late Friday with 17 survivors who are seeking reparations from the church for the trauma they suffered and to pay for the therapy many need. They said they gave Francis a month to study their demands – a demand the Vatican said Francis was studying.
“There are so many victims. There are also so many victims who are still completely broke,” survivor Koen Van Sumere told journalists. “I have also been lucky enough to get a diploma and build a life for myself. But there are so many people who are completely broke and who need help and who cannot afford it and who really need urgent help now.”
Van Sumere said he was encouraged by the “positive” meeting with the pope, but was waiting to see what comes of it.
On Saturday, during a meeting with Belgian clergy and nuns at the Koekelberg Basilica, Francis acknowledged that abuse had created “atrocious suffering and wounds,” and undermined the faith.
