Pope Francis’ programme released for Belgium and Luxembourg visits

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

The Vatican published on Friday the programme of Pope Francis’ apostolic trip to Belgium and Luxembourg.

The visit will mark the pope’s 46th apostolic trip abroad and follows a whirlwind trip to four countries in Asia and Oceania in early September.

According to recent figures, around 12 million people in Belgium, or about half, declare themselves Catholic.

Similarly, in Luxembourg, Catholics make up about 50 percent of the country.

During his visit, the Holy Father will celebrate Mass for the country’s faithful and, as usual, will meet with religious, authorities and privately with his fellow Jesuits.

In Belgium, he will also meet on September 27 with university professors from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, before meeting the students of the Catholic University of Louvain the following day.

Here is the complete program of the Holy Father’s apostolic journey, provided by the Vatican.

APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO LUXEMBOURG AND BELGIUM
SEPTEMBER 26 – 29, 2024

Thursday, September 26, 2024
ROME – LUXEMBOURG – BRUSSELS

08:05 Departure by plane from Rome/Fiumicino International Airport to Luxembourg
10:00 a.m. Arrival at Luxembourg/Findel International Airport
10:00 WELCOME CEREMONY
10:45 COURTESY VISIT TO THE GRAND DUKE OF LUXEMBOURG at the Grand Ducal Palace
11:15 MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER
11:50 MEETING WITH THE AUTHORITIES, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS at the Cercle Cité (Speech by the Holy Father)
4:30 p.m. MEETING WITH THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg (Speech by the Holy Father)
5:45 p.m. FAREWELL CEREMONY at Luxembourg/Findel international airport
6:15 p.m. Departure by plane from Luxembourg/Findel International Airport to Brussels
7:10 p.m. Arrival at Melsbroek airbase
19:10 WELCOME CEREMONY

Friday, September 27, 2024
BRUSSELS – LEUVEN

09:15 COURTESY VISIT TO THE KING OF THE BELGIANS at the Château de Laeken
09:45 MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER
10:00 MEETING WITH AUTHORITIES AND CIVIL SOCIETY (Address by the Holy Father)
4:30 p.m. MEETING WITH UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS in the promotion room of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Address by the Holy Father)

Saturday September 28, 2024
BRUSSELS – LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE

10:00 a.m. MEETING WITH BISHOPS, PRIESTS, DEACONS, CONSECRATED PERSONS, SEMINARIANS AND PASTORAL WORKERS in Koekelberg at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Address by the Holy Father)
4:30 p.m. MEETING WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS at the Aula Magna of the Catholic University of Louvain (Address by the Holy Father)
6:15 p.m. PRIVATE MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS ​​at Saint Michel College

Sunday September 29, 2024
BRUSSELS – ROME

10:00 a.m. MASS at the King Baudouin Stadium (Homily of the Holy Father) (Angelus)
12:15 FAREWELL CEREMONY at Melsbroek Air Base
12:45 Departure by plane from Melsbroek airbase to Rome
2:55 p.m. Arrival at Rome/Fiumicino International Airport