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. |
Tourism in Brazil up 7.8% in 2023Israel Gaza: Journalists injured in alIs it the right time to change careers? A consultant answers common questionsGovernor, Congress members to meet over support for rebuilding bridgeGrief and anger in Moscow following concert attackPetrobras reports net profit of BRL 124.6 bi in 2023Israel Gaza: Journalists injured in alAT&T data breach: Millions of customers caught up in major dark web leakWellington workforce reeling from public service job cutsChina economy update: Evergrande shares plunge 70 per cent