Pope Francis wrapped up a troubled visit to Belgium on Sunday with a Mass to beatify a 17th-century mystic, after dashing the hopes of one of Europe’s most storied Catholic universities by doubling down on his traditional views on women and abortion.

Pope Francis implored bishops not to cover up the sexual abuse of children, during an open-air mass on Sept 29 capping a three-day visit to Belgium, which is still struggling with the legacy of past scandals.

Francis' visit to Belgium was always going to be difficult given the country's history of clerical sexual abuse and its increasingly secular society.