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.
Biden says Brown v. Board of Education ruling was about more than education
Michigan: Two children killed after car crashes into birthday party
Elena Rybakina beats Marta Kostyuk 6
Company wins court ruling to continue development of Michigan factory serving EV industry
One Extraordinary Photo: Covering the Masters
Another race, another victory for Red Bull's Max Verstappen at Chinese GP
2 Pakistani customs officials killed and 3 wounded in an attack in the restive northwest
'Constantly learning' Imanaga off to impressive start with the Chicago Cubs
REVEALED: The New York towns that STILL ban booze nine decades after end of prohibition
Iran helicopter crash that killed President Raisi could reverberate across the Middle East
London Marathon pays tribute to last year's winner Kelvin Kiptum, who died in car crash