Pope says church must ‘seek forgiveness’ for sexual abuse

BRUSSELS, Belgium: Pope Francis said on Friday that the Catholic Church must “seek forgiveness” for the “scourge” of child sexual abuse, during a visit to Belgium where the clergy´s dark past looms large.

In a speech to political and civil society leaders beginning his three-day visit, Francis denounced the “tragic instances of child abuse” as a stain on the Church´s legacy.

“It is our shame and our humiliation,” Francis told the gathering at the Laeken Palace royal residency.

“The Church must be ashamed and must seek forgiveness,” he said.

The 87-year-old pontiff was to meet with clerical sexual assault victims in Brussels as part of his stay in the European nation tarred by decades of scandals and cover-ups.

The meeting with around 15 victims at the Vatican´s diplomatic mission, was being held on Friday with the “utmost discretion”, according to the Belgian church.

It was arranged after a hard-hitting documentary last year put Belgium´s abuse scandal back on the front pages, prompting new victims to come forward.

In an open letter this month, some demanded the pope address paedophilia and set up a process for financial reparations.

“Words alone are not enough. Concrete measures must also be taken,” Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a preamble to the pope´s speech. The pontiff said the abuse was “a scourge that the Church is addressing firmly and decisively by listening to and accompanying those who have been wounded, and by implementing a prevention programme throughout the world”.