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. |
China to enhance employment services for veteransPutin says Moscow terror attack committed by radical Islamists, more questions remainKenya holds China alumni symposium on Belt and Road InitiativeMainland willing to assist with postNo casualties reported in Russian city of Orsk after dam breachGang violence takes toll on Haiti health facilities: UN2024 Kearney FDI confidence index upgrades China's ranking from 7th to 3rdChina making efforts to boost employment: MinisterUkraine says Russian warship in Baltic Sea out of service after fireGang violence takes toll on Haiti health facilities: UN