Taken from mother by nuns, victim finds solace in pope Belgium visit

Pope Francis (C) meets residents during a visit at the Home Saint-Joseph, a residence for elderly in economic difficulty helped by the Little Sisters of Charity, in Brussels, on September 27, 2024, during his visit to Belgium. [AFP]

Pope Francis on Friday said he was "saddened" to learn about a little-known scandal that still troubles Belgium: the "forced adoption" of newborns taken from their mothers, with the complicity of nuns.

To Lieve Soens, who was listening in the audience, the pontiff's words meant a great deal.