Pope Francis' Visit to Belgium Sparks Controversy and Diplomatic Tensions

Pope Francis had a controversial Papal Visit to Belgium (Flickr)

Pope Francis' visit to Belgium in September 2024 has sparked a series of controversies and diplomatic tensions between Belgian officials and the Vatican. Belgian leaders have criticized the pontiff's statements on abortion and the Catholic Church's handling of sexual abuse cases. These controversies have generated a broader debate on the Church's role in modern society.

Pope Francis’ comments regarding abortion policies in Belgium, “abortion is murder (…) the doctors who take part in this are- allow me to use the word- they’re hitmen” were a major point of disagreement. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo rebuked the pontiff's remarks on the basis that "it is absolutely unacceptable for a foreign head of state to make such statements about democratic decision-making in our country." This exchange developed into a diplomatic row between Belgium and the Vatican, highlighting the sensitive nature of reproductive rights discussions in international relations.

In the wake of the sexual violence controversy, Pope Francis has tried to appease the public. He issued an apology for the Church's past failures in addressing issues of clerical abuse, acknowledging that the institution "must be ashamed" of its actions. He declared further, "I ask everyone, do not cover up abuse. I ask bishops, do not cover up abuse." However, Belgium’s King Philippe met this apology with further criticism, stating that it had "taken far too long for the cries to be heard and acknowledged," underscoring the ongoing pain and frustration felt by abuse survivors and their advocates. A 2010 report from the Belgian church documented 507 cases of abuse, with children as young as two years old and 30,000 people affected in a system of unconsented adoptions carried out by the Church from 1940 to 1980. 

Officials at two Catholic universities, VUB and ULB, denounced the pope’s views as "deterministic and reductive," reflecting the chasm between the Church's traditional positions and the more progressive, Protestant elements within Belgian society. In an open letter published in Belgian newspaper De Standaard, representatives of the universities claimed, "Freedom of speech is sacred to us, and the Holy See may also make use of it. But whoever makes slanderous accusations is no longer exercising freedom of speech, but is guilty of spreading hatred."

The papal visit has brought into sharp relief the ongoing secularization of Belgian society, on par with trends seen across Western Europe. Over a sixty-year span, Belgium has undergone a profound cultural and religious transformation, evolving into a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation while simultaneously becoming increasingly secular. This shift is exemplified in the declining influence of the Catholic Church. According to the Episcopal Conference (CEB), Catholic identification dropped from 53 percent in 2018 to 50 percent in 2023, and regular Mass attendance plummeted from around 50 percent in the 1960s to a strikingly low 8.9 percent in 2022. The legalization of abortion in 1990, euthanasia in 2002, and same-sex marriage in 2003 further exemplifies the growing divergence between traditional Catholic teachings and Belgian societal norms.

The Belgian Catholic Church therefore finds itself in a perilous position, especially due to the aggravation of ecclesiastical progressives in the country. Activist group Centre d’action Laïque, the overarching group for secular organizations in the country, has begun to call for “de-baptization.” The Belgian Church “was hoping for a new momentum from the pope’s visit” and did not foresee the extreme backlash to the Vatican. Instead, according to Vincent Delcorps, editor-in-chief of CathoBel, “Dialogue seems more difficult now than it was a week ago, and the bishops' task has become more complicated.” 

There are concerns that the pope's statements on sensitive ethical issues may widen the already existing gap between the Church and Belgian society. Therefore, international onlookers who have also experienced a trend of decreasing religiosity may also wonder about the extent to which the reaction to the pope in Belgium is representative of their own populations.