The Pope’s conduct even led three Belgian bishops to question his approach to their country.
During his flight from Brussels back to Rome, Pope Francis repeated his description of abortion doctors as “hitmen”. He had earlier made a surprise announcement that he would open a cause to beatify the late King Baudouin – who temporarily stepped down so as not to sign the 1990 law legalising abortion.
De Croo, who has repeatedly criticised Church mishandling of clerical sexual abuse scandals, summoned the apostolic nuncio in Brussels to issue a formal complaint.
“That the head of a foreign state speaks this way about the laws of our country is totally unacceptable,” De Croo said of Francis’ “hitmen” comment, which had angered Belgian politicians and doctors. “The time when the Church dictated what happens is behind us.”
During the visit, the Pope prayed at the tomb of Baudouin, who died in 1993. The monarch was a devout Catholic whose temporary resignation did not stop abortion being practiced legally once he resumed his reign.
De Croo said the Pope’s official itinerary did not include a visit to the grave and that it was “less private than was announced”.
Three bishops also criticised the Pope’s behaviour.
“One must accept our society as it is,” said Bishop Pierre Warin of Namur. “I doubt the Pope writes all his speeches but one must realise the context of the country one is in.”
Bishop Guy Harpigny of Tournai told local television: “The fact that the Pope wants to beatify the king probably comes from some [Catholics] but the bishops never asked for this.”
While Harpigny said he agreed with the Pope on abortion, “calling doctors and gynaecologists ‘hitmen’ ... is a bit much”.
Bishop Johan Bonny of Antwerp objected to the Pope’s announcement of Baudouin’s beatification cause at his open-air Mass in Brussels.
“I think his counsellors didn't advise him well,” Bonny told the daily De Standaard. “Those last minutes cast a shadow over the three days before. It feels like the Pope dropped another bomb and left. That’s easy.”