Welcome Pope Francis: A Three-Day Apostolic Visit to Belgium
Greetings from Belgium as Pope Francis embarks on a three-day apostolic visit filled with exciting events and meaningful encounters!
Written By Vatican News
After a quick 55-minute flight from Luxembourg, Pope Francis arrived at Brussels’ Melsbroek Air Base on Thursday evening, commencing the second leg of his 46th Apostolic journey abroad.
Welcoming him to the country were Archbishop Franco Coppola, the Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium, and Patrick Renault, the Ambassador of Belgium to the Holy See, who joined the papal plane upon landing.
On the tarmac, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussel, Malines-Bruxelles, Luc Terlinden, along with a delegation of religious and civil authorities, eagerly awaited the Pope’s arrival. The guard of honor and a military band played the national anthems of both the Vatican and Belgium, while a children’s choir sang songs of welcome to the Holy Father.
Pope St. John Paul II was the last Pontiff to visit Belgium back in 1995.
Following a brief welcome ceremony, Pope Francis will be staying at the Apostolic Nunciature during his time in Belgium. He is scheduled to have a courtesy visit with King Leopold Lodewijk Maria and Queen Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz at Laeken Castle on Friday morning, followed by meetings with authorities and representatives of civil society where he will deliver his first official discourse in the nation.
One of the highlights of this visit is the commemoration of the 600th anniversary of the establishment of the Catholic University of Leuven, home to one of the world’s top theology faculties. The visit will culminate in a Mass at Brussels’ Stadium on Sunday, with over 35,000 faithful expected to attend.
Thursday, September 26, marks the exciting start of Pope Francis’ 46th Apostolic Journey abroad, taking him to Luxembourg and Belgium.
