A Sept. 27 Vatican statement said the meeting lasted for over two hours, and allowed victims to “bring to the pope their own story and their own pain to the pope, and to express their expectations regarding the church’s commitment against abuse.

During a trip to Luxembourg and Belgium, Francis will talk to 15 people who were abused by Roman Catholic clergy.

Belgium's King Philippe levelled direct criticism at the pontiff, saying it had "taken far too long for the cries to be heard and acknowledged".

Pope Francis was pressed firmly by Belgium's king and premier on Friday for more concrete action to address sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy, an issue once more in the spotlight as he visits. Both King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo raised the issue in public in unusually forceful language for a papal foreign trip,

Pope Francis said Friday that the Catholic Church must "seek forgiveness" for the "scourge" of child sexual abuse, during a visit to Belgium where the clergy's dark past looms large.