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.
Amir Khan's £11.5m luxury wedding venue finally hosts its first marriage: Bride arrives on horse
Singer shows the world his talent at UN
Burg Chinese Chorus celebrates 10th anniversary with concert in Germany
Missouri Senate filibuster ends with vote on multibillion
Six killed in a 'foiled coup' in Congo, the army says
Home appliance giant Midea reports 10 pct revenue increase in Q1
Gangs in Haiti launch fresh attacks, days after a new prime minister is announced
Posts share fake New York Post story saying a bill would make it illegal to question 9/11
Supreme Court rejects an appeal from a Canadian man once held at Guantanamo
Death toll from heavy rains in southern Brazil jumps to 29, with 60 more still mising
Pentagon vows to keep weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces a renewed assault by Russia
Promoter stands by Ryan Garcia after a report he tested positive for a banned substance