Francis was urged in Belgium by both King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to do more to help abuse survivors in unusually forceful language for a papal foreign trip, always a carefully choreographed event.

Pope Francis asked for forgiveness in Belgium for the Catholic church's clergy abuse scandal and its poor response to it on Friday, but the country's prime minister called for faith's leadership to do more.

Pope Francis on Sunday wrapped up a weekend trip to Belgium, where he faced some of the strongest criticism yet levied during one of his foreign trips.