Pope Francis criticized in Belgium; members of Peruvian lay group suspended for abuse

·25 min·2 clips

Pope Francis faces pointed questions in Belgium on clergy sexual abuse and the church's treatment of women.

This episode of Inside the Vatican covers major Vatican news stories from early October. Host Colleen Dulle and veteran Vatican reporter Gerard O'Connell discuss Pope Francis's trip to Belgium, where he faced questions on clergy sexual abuse from King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. The Pope met with 17 abuse victims for two hours, and they reported feeling listened to for the first time. At the Catholic University of Louvain, the Pope's speech on women's roles sparked a critical statement from the university, which he later called 'immoral.' On the flight back, Pope Francis addressed the Middle East conflict, stating that Israel's disproportionate responses are immoral and warning of a potential world war. The second story details the Vatican's expulsion of 10 members of the Peruvian lay group Sodalitium Christiane Vitae, including a bishop and journalist Alejandro Bermudez, for abuses ranging from sexual and physical to 'abuse in the exercise of the apostolate of journalism.' This marks a novel application of canon law. The investigation, led by Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu, is ongoing and may involve financial scrutiny. The episode concludes with a preview of the Synod on Synodality, which opened with a retreat, and promises extensive coverage from America Media's team in Rome.

As heard by us

A cheerful papal university visit quickly gives way to a public rebuke over women in the church.

A papal trip to Belgium and Luxembourg turns into a study of how fast a church visit can shift its meaning. In a university hall outside Brussels, Pope Francis comes across as buoyant during a session described as positive and cheerful.

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You want the inside line on Pope Francis facing sharp Belgian questions and the Vatican suspension of 10 members of a Peruvian lay group.

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