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. |
Xi Sends Congratulatory Letter to Forum on Civilization and SinologyCold snap sweeps eastern U.S.Xi's Article Calls on Young Officials to Shoulder Mission of the TimesBoundary question should be placed appropriately in ChinaKey projects under construction in Heilongjiang, NE ChinaXinhua Headlines: Xi Attends SCO Summit, Calls for Unity, CoordinationXi Meets Sogavare, Urging Enhanced ChinaXi Calls for More Innovations in Party's TheoriesOrders surge at China's small commodity hub as Paris Olympics approachesThousands cross Polish border fleeing Russia