What happened: Outgoing Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo summoned the Apostolic Nuncio for a discussion, as reported by the Vatican News portal. The politician revealed that he intends to convey that "what happened is unacceptable." The Prime Minister also clarified that a visit to the grave of King Baudouin was not originally part of the strictly private meeting with the Pope. However, the cleric reportedly requested this addition at the last moment.
The issue: Belgian MPs reacted negatively to Pope Francis' comments about King Baudouin during a heated parliamentary debate. The cleric stated that the monarch had temporarily stepped down from office in 1990 to avoid signing a "criminal law" legalizing abortion. Additionally, the Pope encouraged Belgians to follow the king's example and expressed hopes for his beatification. Later, during a press conference, Pope Francis referred to abortion as "the murder of a human being" and called doctors who perform it "paid assassins."
Abortion in the Belgian Parliament: Politicians pointed out that the Pope's remarks coincided with an ongoing national debate about liberalizing abortion laws. There are plans to legalize the procedure up to the 18th week of pregnancy. MPs perceived the Pope's words as an attempt to interfere in the country's internal affairs. Meanwhile, the remarks came during the observance of World Day for Safe Abortion.
The Pope’s Controversial Visit: The cleric also visited the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium, where he stated that "women are the fertile nurturers of the Church" and that they make "life-giving sacrifices." Shortly after, the university condemned Pope Francis' conservative stance on the role of women.
