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.

Speaking before approximately 300 dignitaries, the pope remarked that child abuse is “a scourge that the Church is tackling resolutely and firmly.”

A 55-minute flight from Luxembourg brought Pope Francis to Brussels' Melsbroek Air Base last night, beginning the second leg of his 46th Apostolic journey abroad. He was welcomed by the Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium,