The Catholic Church cannot be credible in its mission of proclaiming Christ unless it acknowledges its mistakes and bends down “to heal the wounds we have caused by our sins,” Pope Francis said.
In his homily during Mass Sept. 29 in Brussels, Pope Francis strayed from his prepared text to urge bishops to hide nothing, “condemn abuses” and assist perpetrators in getting help.
The prime minister’s speech at the start of Pope Francis’ visit was one of the most pointed ever directed at the pope during a foreign trip and underscored just how raw the abuse scandal still is in Belgium.