**Pope Francis Calls for Justice Against Child Abusers Among Clergy**

BRUSSELS - In response to growing public outrage over the Catholic Church's history of concealing instances of child abuse within its ranks, Pope Francis emphatically stated that bishops guilty of abuse must face justice. "Evil must not be hidden. Evil must be brought out into the open," he declared to the thousands gathered for mass at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, concluding his visit to Belgium.

The pontiff's unscripted remarks emphasized the necessity of transparency and accountability. He encouraged victims to come forward, saying, "Let it be known, as some abuse victims have done, and with courage." He stressed that all abusers, regardless of their position—whether layperson, priest, or bishop—must be judged for their actions.

Pope Francis' statements followed an extraordinary trip marked by stern rebukes from Belgium's leaders. Both King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo criticized the pope for the Church's inadequate handling of child abuse cases and urged him to take more substantial action. "Words alone are not enough, concrete steps must also be taken," De Croo emphasized during a meeting at Laeken Castle on Friday.

Since 2012, Belgium has reported over 700 cases of clerical child abuse. One particularly egregious case involved Bishop Roger Vangheluwe of Bruges, who was allowed to retire in 2010 despite admitting to sexually abusing his nephew for 13 years. Only recently was he defrocked by Pope Francis, signaling an effort to address past injustices.

The pope also referenced a significant meeting on Friday, where he spent two hours with 17 abuse victims. Many of these individuals have experienced long-term psychological and financial repercussions due to the abuse they suffered. "I heard their suffering as abuse victims and I repeat here: In the Church, there is room for everyone, everyone, everyone, but we will all be judged and there is no place for abuse, no place for covering up abuse," he reiterated during Sunday's mass.

While the pontiff has initiated steps to increase transparency and prevent the concealment of abuse, his overall record remains under scrutiny. His handling of cases involving personal acquaintances has drawn criticism, notably his alleged protection of Slovenian priest and artist Marko Rupnik, accused of sexually assaulting multiple women over three decades.

The widespread abuse of minors within the Church is creating tensions between the Vatican and influential bishops' conferences in countries like Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium. These groups have been pressing for significant updates to the Church's laws to offer better protection for minors. Pope Francis' recent visit and comments mark a step towards addressing these deep-seated issues but also highlight the ongoing challenges facing the Church.