Pope Francis to Visit Belgium and Luxembourg in September

ROME (AP) — The Vatican has announced the itinerary for Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to Belgium and Luxembourg from September 26 to 29. During this four-day trip, the Pope will celebrate Mass, engage with religious and political leaders, and hold private discussions with members of the Jesuit order. This visit is particularly significant as it coincides with the 600th anniversary celebrations of Belgium’s two major Catholic universities. In Belgium, where approximately half of the 12 million residents identify as Catholic, Pope Francis will meet with faculty from the Dutch-language Katholieke Universiteit Leuven on September 27. The following day, he will address students at the French-language Université Catholique de Louvain. The Pope’s engagement with these institutions underscores the importance of education within the Catholic community. The visit to Luxembourg, where Catholics also make up about 50% of the population, is seen as a gesture of support for Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, the Jesuit archbishop of Luxembourg. Cardinal Hollerich is a key figure in Pope Francis’ ongoing synod, a significant reform initiative aimed at revitalizing the Catholic Church. This trip comes shortly after Pope Francis completes a demanding foreign journey to Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore from September 2 to 13, marking a busy period for the pontiff as he continues to engage with global Catholic communities.