Vatican City, May 3, 2010 / 12:46 pm
The bishops of Belgium, led by Archbishop of Malines Bruxelles André-Joseph Leonard, are at the Holy See this week for their periodic visit to the "threshold of the apostles." Among other issues on the agenda for their time at the Vatican will be discussions regarding sexual abuse, which led to the resignation of a bishop last month.
The Belgian bishops' "ad Limina" visit started this morning and will wrap up on Friday in an audience with Pope Benedict XVI. The bishops were joined by Fr. Koen Vanhoutte diocesan administrator for the recent vacated Diocese of Bruges, the secretary general for the Belgian bishops' conference and the diocesan administrator for the Diocese of Namur.
Archbishop Leonard, primate of Belgium spoke with Vatican Radio about the visit, saying, "Surely we will touch on the painful questions that have been placed in our country after the resignation of the bishop of Bruges."
On April 23, the Holy Father accepted the resignation of Bishop Roger Joseph Vangheluwe from leading the Diocese of Bruges after his own admission of having committed sexual abuse of a minor.