Vatican starts beatification of king who refused to approve abortion
- The Vatican established a historical commission to investigate King Baudouin's life and virtues.
- Pope Francis publicly criticized Belgium's abortion laws and expressed his desire to beatify Baudouin.
- The beatification process signifies continued church influence over political discourse in Belgium.
In Belgium, the Vatican has initiated the beatification process of King Baudouin, a monarch who abdicated for one day in 1990 to avoid approving legislation that would legalize abortion. This significant decision was announced on December 17, 2023, during a period marked by Pope Francis' strong condemnation of Belgium's abortion laws, which he described as 'homicidal'. This announcement follows an earlier controversial visit by Pope Francis to Belgium in September 2023, where he prayed at King Baudouin's tomb and fervently criticized the nation's stance on abortion. His remarks not only surprised many Belgians but also received sharp criticism from Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who deemed the Pope's intervention in domestic legislative matters as unacceptable.