ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has added a stop in Luxembourg to a trip to Belgium in September, a three-day visit that will come as he is recovering from a much longer and challenging trip to Asia.
The Vatican on Monday announced the Sept. 26-29 dates of the planned trip, saying Francis would first stop in Luxembourg and then travel onto Brussels, Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium.
Belgium’s bishops had previously announced that Francis was coming to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the country’s two main Catholic universities. Francis’ stop in Luxembourg is apparently something of a nod to Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, the Jesuit archbishop of Luxembourg who is playing a major role in Francis’ big synod, a years-long reform project for the Catholic Church.
The Luxembourg and Belgium visit is scheduled to begin less than two weeks after Francis returns from the longest and most challenging foreign trip of his pontificate, a Sept. 2-13 voyage to Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Singapore.
Inquiry slams UK authorities for failures that killed thousands in infected blood scandal
Gary Neville takes aim at 'terrible' Arsenal player who 'kept falling over' during their 0
Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi drives wife Princess Beatrice and his son Wolfie and sister
Rustle these up with Rosemary: Carrot cake with orange buttercream and walnuts
Bella Hadid goes braless in a thigh
David de Gea jokingly asks 'who' as he responds to former Man United team
King Charles speaks to a royal fan about her King Charles spaniel named Camilla at Easter service
Dodgers acquire pitcher Yohan Ramírez from Mets for cash
ALISON BOSHOFF: Yo ho ho! Johnny Depp to launch his own brand of Caribbean dark rum
Verona confirms Serie A status for another year after beating Salernitana
Succession's Brian Cox stars in an American stage epic... but at three