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.
What's next for Iran after death of its president in crash?
Ukrainian president orders demobilization of conscripts
Sarah Nurse scores in OT to lift Toronto over Montreal 3
John Sterling honored by Yankees for 36 seasons and 5,631 games as radio voice
Yvette Fielding says her Most Haunted co
Ukrainian president orders demobilization of conscripts
Can US cities fine homeless people for sleeping outside?
Jordan Montgomery wins in debut, Diamondbacks get 22 hits in 17
Election 2024: Biden and Trump bypassed the Commission on Presidential Debates
Jordan Montgomery wins in debut, Diamondbacks get 22 hits in 17
Celebrity birthdays for the week of May 26
Farce as Met Police apologise for threatening to arrest 'openly Jewish' man caught in pro