Pope Francis on Tuesday led a prayer service asking forgiveness for the failings of the Catholic Church, including treatment by clergy of women and survivors of sexual abuse, as Catholic leaders prepared to begin a month-long summit at the Vatican.

Francis was urged in Belgium by both King Philippe and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to do more to help abuse survivors in unusually forceful language for a papal foreign trip, always a carefully choreographed event.

On Saturday, Pope Francis acknowledged that the abuse scandal had created "atrocious suffering and wounds," and undermined the faith.

Pope Francis will open a month-long summit of global Catholic leaders on Wednesday but it is likely to defer any decision on divisive issues such as women's ordination and blessings for same-sex couples until next year.

Pope Francis also doubled down on his traditional views on abortion and praised Catholic abuse victims for their conduct.

Pope Francis has doubled down on his traditional views on abortion and women during his in-flight press conference coming home from Belgium.

Pope Francis on Sunday wrapped up a weekend trip to Belgium, where he faced some of the strongest criticism yet levied during one of his foreign trips. The 87-year-old pontiff was pressed by high-profile figures at three of the five major events on his three-day visit in unusual and sometimes fierce language for a papal trip.

Speaking to a crowd of around 39,000 in the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, the pontiff wrapped up a difficult visit to Belgium by saying, "There is no place for the covering up of abuse."

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