Pope Francis' Belgium Visit Marred by Clergy Abuse Scandal

Pope Francis heads to Belgium amid a backdrop of clergy abuse scandals and cover-ups. Survivors have penned an open letter to the Pope, demanding reparations. The visit, initially to commemorate the 600th anniversary of Belgium's Catholic universities, now confronts the country's grim history of clerical abuse and institutional failures.

Pope Francis is set to visit Belgium this week, as the nation grapples with its troubling legacy of clergy abuse and institutional cover-ups. The visit comes after the Pope's four-nation tour of Asia, which saw record-setting crowds.

This time, however, Francis will be met with an open letter from abuse survivors, urging him to initiate a universal system of church reparations. Survivors' harrowing stories have also prompted a parliamentary investigation into judicial and law enforcement failures in handling the abuse cases.

Adding to the controversy, a popular hymn at the Pope's Mass had to be changed due to its association with a known abuser. The visit, meant to commemorate the 600th anniversary of Belgium's Catholic universities, has been overshadowed by the nation's alarming history of clerical abuse.

(With inputs from agencies.)