Pope Francis was pressed firmly by Belgium's king and premier on Friday for more concrete action to address sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy, an issue once more in the spotlight as he visits. Both King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo raised the issue in public in unusually forceful language for a papal foreign trip,

Pope Francis, who was visiting Belgium Friday, said the abuse of minors is the Catholic Church’s “shame and humiliation”. The pontiff was giving a speech to Belgian leaders at Laeken Castle, where he also met with the Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde,

Slap from Belgium to Pope Francis. No Pope had ever been attacked so brutally and publicly by representatives of a host country. Institutional courtesy had always prevailed, but not this time.