The Pope left Belgium for Rome on Sunday afternoon following a visit that won’t be forgotten quickly. The Pontiff had a tight schedule in the just under 70 hours that he was in the country. The Pope was unprecedently sharp in his condemnation of abuse carried out by clergy and on those that had turned a blind-eye or hushed it up. However, the pope also made a number of comments that in a modern western society would be considered to be conservative to say the least. On the plane back to Rome, the Pontiff announced that he would start the process for the beatification of Belgium’s late King Boudewijn.
The three high spots of the visit
Surprise visit to the Hope Happening
On Saturday evening 5,000 young people, including many members of the Catholic Scouts and Guides gathered at the Heizel in Brussels for the Hope Happening. In what was a mini version of the World Youth Days, there was a festival atmosphere with beer, chips, music and those that wished to having the opportunity to spend the night in a dormitory set up in one of the large halls at Brussels Expo. During the course of Saturday afternoon, a rumour started to do the rounds that Pope would be vising the event.
This was confirmed at around 6pm. The Pope arrived at around 8:40pm. He was cheered by thousands of young people. The Pontiff to the young people to enjoy themselves, commit themselves and to be merry. He blesses to hall, bless a child and gave the young people present a night they won’t forget.
Pope Francis excels in charm, enthusiasm and surprise. This was also evident on Friday when he visited a care home for the elderly in Brussels. On Saturday he breakfasted with homeless people at a church in the Brussels municipality of Sint-Gillis.
He also paid a surprise visit to the grave of the late King Boudewijn. While there the Pope express his support for the late King’s opposion to abortion. The Pope described the legislation that legalised abortion “A murderous law”.
Improvisation and deviating from the speech text
The text of the speech that the Pope was to have delivered during his visit to the King was succinct and even bland regarding sexual abuse. Disappointing really. However, when the speech was actually delivered and following outgoing Prime Minister De Croo’s strong condemnation of the way the Church had dealt with abuse during the years. In a speech that was dynamic and spontaneous, the Pope roundly commended the abuse and the role the Church had played. “The Church must ask for forgiveness”, the Pope said.
During his sermon in National Basilica, the Pope once again deviated from his text to condemn abuse by clergy.
This was also the case during the Eucharist in Brussels’ King Boudewijn Stadium. There Pope Francis said that “Abuse must not be swept under the carpet. Regardless of whether the abuse is committed by a layperson, a priest or a bishop”. Remember Roger Vangheluwe?
Although Pope Francis had said lot, more than what some might have expected, about sexual abuse, the visit is still seen by some as a missed opportunity as the Pontiff didn’t publicly apologise for the abuse that had been committed by members of an organisation that he leads.
A long and intense conversation with victims
Pope Francis did apologise to some of the 15 victims who were allowed to have a conversation with him. According to one victim it was the “best conversation ever with someone from the clergy”.
Some saw tears from the Pope, others received personal apologies. However, there were also victims, that prefer to call themselves ‘survivors’, who were not impressed.
The Pope tried to salve the wounds. He listened and nodded and said that he is committed to following up everything he has been told and will look into compensation. He says that this must never happen again. The Pope looked decisive in his commitment, but for some it is ‘too little, too late’.
From one extreme to another
Despite having gone further than ever before in his condemnation of abuse by clergy and the turning of a blind eye and covering up of such abuse by the Church, the Pope also showed his conservative side during his visit.
For example he remained on the sidelines on the role of women in the Church. The Pope has to perform a fine balancing act between the regions of the world where the Church is still growing (Asia, South America, Africa) that are still (quite) conservative and the more liberal-minded parts of the world such as Western Europe.