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,

Belgium's prime minister on Friday blasted Pope Francis for the Catholic Church's horrific legacy of clerical sex abuse and cover-ups in his country.

Pope Francis said Friday that the Catholic Church must "seek forgiveness" for the "scourge" of child sexual abuse, during a visit to Belgium where the clergy's dark past looms large.