BRUSSELS (BELGIUM)
VRT / FlandersNews.be [Brussels, Belgium]
September 13, 2024
Belgium’s Roman Catholic bishops have chosen 15 victims of sexual abuse that will meet Pope Francis during the Pontif’s visit to Belgium at the end of the month. Around 80 people that had suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic clergy had requested an audience with the Pope. Those that have not been selected to meet Pope Francis in person will be able to write a letter that will be passed on to him.
In 2 weeks, Pope Francis will visit Belgium to mark the 600th anniversary of the foundation of Leuven University (KUL and UCL). Since the visit was announced they has been much discussion about a possible meeting between the Pontif and victims sexual abuse at the hands of Roman Catholic clergy.
Earlier, it was announced that the Pope would meet (some of) the victims. It was up to the Belgian bishops to decide who should meet the pope. More than 80 victims responded to an open invitation to request an audience with Pope Francis. At start of the month around 30 of them met with representatives of the Catholic Church. From this group the bishops have selected 15 people that will be able to meet the Pope and talk to him for 1 hour.
In a statement released on Friday the bishops say that “These are men and women from every province in the country and they suffered diverse forms of abuse”.
The victims that have not been selected to meet the Pope will be able to write a letter to him that the bishops will hand over to the Pontif in person. In the autumn a colloquium with be organised by the church to which the victims will be invited.
“Decide for ourselves”
Previously, there was criticism that the bishops were to decide which victims should be allowed to speak to the Pope in person. Aline (58) suffered sexual abuse at the hands of the clergy. She attended the meeting between the bishops and abuse victims that took place earier this month. Aline spoke of her frustration that the victims were not to be given a say in deciding who should meet Pope Francis.
“During the meeting we said that we felt that we should be able to decide for ourselves who should be able to speak to the Pope. We are strong, intelligent and competent enough to decide this among ourselves”.