Pope Francis, during a visit to Belgium, emphasized that bishops who have abused children must face justice and not be shielded by the Church. Addressing thousands in Brussels, he declared that “evil must not be hidden” and called for abusers to be judged, regardless of their position. His remarks followed criticism from Belgium’s king and prime minister over the Church’s handling of abuse cases. Since 2012, Belgium has reported over 700 clerical abuse cases. Francis also met with 17 abuse victims, reiterating that the Church must not cover up abuse.