Summary
Pope Francis encountered significant backlash from Belgian Catholic universities during his recent visit, particularly regarding his views on the roles of women in the church. His reaffirmation of traditional perspectives on women’s roles, including his resistance to the ordination of women as priests, sparked criticism from students and faculty at the Catholic University of Louvain and its Dutch-speaking counterpart, who called for a “paradigm shift” in the church’s approach to gender equality.
The pope’s visit, intended to celebrate the 600th anniversary of Louvain University, was overshadowed by the legacy of clerical sexual abuse in Belgium and the growing secularization of the country. While Francis has made some reforms during his papacy, such as allowing women to serve in various roles within the church, he has consistently maintained a conservative stance on issues like the priesthood and women’s leadership. During his address, he emphasized the nurturing qualities of women, which many in the university community found reductive and out of touch with contemporary societal values. In response, the university issued a statement expressing their disapproval of his views, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive approach that recognizes the contributions and rights of women in both the church and society.
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