Pope Francis is set to travel to Belgium following a successful four-nation tour of Asia, where he encountered large crowds and vibrant church communities. However, his visit to Belgium coincides with the country’s dark history of clergy sex abuse and institutional cover-ups. Survivors of abuse have penned an open letter to Pope Francis, urging him to establish a universal system of church reparations and take responsibility for the devastation that abuse has caused in their lives.

During his four-day visit starting Thursday, Pope Francis is expected to meet with 15 abuse survivors to address these critical issues. The Belgian parliament has also announced a follow-on investigation into how judicial and law enforcement authorities mishandled a major criminal investigation into the church’s sex crimes in 2010.

Although the primary reason for Pope Francis’ visit is to commemorate the 600th anniversary of Belgium’s Catholic universities, he will also address migration and climate issues during his visit. Despite these topics being priorities for Francis, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni acknowledged that the Pope will address Belgium’s history of abuse during his visit.

Belgium’s abuse scandal has unfolded over the past quarter-century, with shocking revelations in 2010 leading to police raids on church offices and the resignation of Bishop Roger Vangheluwe. The scandal resurfaced last year with a documentary that highlighted the systematic cover-up of crimes by the Catholic hierarchy.

The Belgian public’s outrage has led to parliamentary inquiries and testimonies from victims, experts, and the Catholic hierarchy. Despite efforts to address the scandal, challenges remain, including unresolved issues with the 2010 police raids and the return of seized documents to the church.

The bitter legacy of abuse and cover-ups in Belgium has cast a shadow over Pope Francis’ visit, with some victims feeling retraumatized and excluded from opportunities to meet with the Pope. The atmosphere surrounding the visit stands in stark contrast to the enthusiastic reception Francis received in Asia and differs significantly from past papal visits to Belgium.

As Pope Francis prepares to address these challenging issues during his visit to Belgium, the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of its abuse scandal and the long road to healing and justice for survivors.