Pope Francis sought to encourage and reinvigorate the Catholic Church in Belgium, which has been disheartened by the abuse crisis.

Pope Francis was pressed firmly by Belgium's king and premier on Friday for more concrete action to address sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, an issue once more in the spotlight as he visits.

Pope Francis has promised to “offer all the help we can” to aid victims of clergy sexual abuse heal after victims told him first-hand of the trauma that had shattered