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.
Shooting injures 2 at Missouri high school graduation ceremony
Benintendi hits 2nd home of game in 10th, White Sox beat Rays 8
Russia vetoes UN Security Council draft resolution on weapons of mass destruction in outer space
Mississippi Senate agrees to a new school funding formula, sending plan to the governor
Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to lead Indianapolis 500 field in Corvette pace car
Chinese scientists propose new solutions for fast
Charlize Theron cuts a casual figure in a T
Married at First Sight's love guru reveals the biggest faux pas people make on a first date
Health issues nag Sixers, Clippers and Bucks as they try to erase 2
Lynn Williams breaks NWSL goal
Nadal gets even with De Minaur at Madrid Open. Top seeds Sinner and Swiatek advance