Pope Francis asked for forgiveness in Belgium for the Catholic church's clergy abuse scandal and its poor response to it on Friday, but the country's prime minister called for faith's leadership to do more.

Pope Francis was pressed firmly by Belgium's king and premier on Friday for more concrete action to address sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy, an issue once more in the spotlight as he visits. Both King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo raised the issue in public in unusually forceful language for a papal foreign trip,

Belgium’s prime minister has blasted Pope Francis for the Catholic Church’s horrific legacy of clerical sex abuse and cover-ups.

Pope Francis faced calls from Belgium's King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo for concrete steps to address sexual abuse by Catholic clergy during his visit to Belgium. Both leaders emphasized that the Church's past actions were insufficient.

During a trip to Luxembourg and Belgium, Francis will talk to 15 people who were abused by Roman Catholic clergy.

Belgium’s prime minister has blasted Pope Francis for the Catholic Church’s horrific legacy of clerical sex abuse and cover-ups. Alexander De Croo demanded “concrete steps” to come clean with the

In Belgium’s Laeken Castle, Pope Francis confronted the Catholic Church’s long-standing clerical-abuse crisis in the country, declaring unequivocally that “the Church should be ashamed” and must seek forgiveness for its failures.

Usually, diplomatic protocol keeps outrage out of the public speeches. The PM's tone underscored just how raw the abuse scandal still is in Belgium.

Pope Francis was pressed firmly by Belgium's king and premier on Friday for more concrete action to address sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, an issue once more in the spotlight as he visits. Both King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo raised the issue in public in unusually forceful language for a papal foreign trip,

Pope Francis said 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.