Numerous meetings and appointments will mark the four-day apostolic trip that Pope Francis will make to Belgium and Luxembourg from September 26 to 29. The Vatican Press Office has published the official program of the Pope’s international trip.
Arrival in Luxembourg
The first stop will be in Luxembourg, where the Pope will arrive on Thursday morning, September 26, after a two-hour flight. Departure from Rome-Fiumicino International Airport is scheduled at 8:05 a.m., at 10:00 a.m., the papal plane will land at Luxembourg/Findel airport, where the welcome ceremony will take place.
A courtesy visit to the Grand Duke of Luxembourg will take place at 10:45 at the Grand Ducal Palace, followed by a meeting with the Prime Minister at 11:15 and 11:50 with the authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps at the Cercle Cité. There, Francis will deliver his first speech.
Meeting with the Catholic community and departure to Brussels
In the afternoon, at 4:30 p.m., the Pontiff will deliver his second address to the Catholic community in the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Luxembourg. From the country, the Pope will say goodbye at 5:45 p.m., with a farewell ceremony at the Luxembourg-Findel international airport; At 18:15, he will leave for Brussels. He will arrive in the Belgian capital at 7:10 p.m., landing at the Melsbroek air base, where the welcome ceremony will take place.
Meetings with the King of Belgium, authorities and university students
The second day of the trip, on Friday, September 27, will begin at 9:15 a.m. with a courtesy visit to the King of Belgium at Laeken Castle. Next, at 9:45, there will be a meeting with the Prime Minister and, at 10:00, a meeting with the authorities and civil society. For that occasion, a speech by the Pope is planned. In the afternoon, at 4:30 p.m., Francis will instead meet with university professors at the Promotiezaal of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, the Catholic University of Leuven, one of the oldest in Europe, which celebrates its 600th anniversary in 2025. Foundation. A speech on this occasion is also planned.
Appointment with clergy and young people
The day of Saturday, September 28, will be dedicated to a meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, seminarians and pastoral workers in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg. The Pope will address them in a speech. The meeting will take place at 10:00. At 4:30 p.m., however, there will be an appointment with the university students in the Aula Magna of the Catholic University of Louvain, in Louvain-La-Neuve; A speech is also planned here. Finally, as is customary in all apostolic trips, there will be a private meeting of the Pontiff with members of the Society of Jesus at the Saint Michel College.
The closing mass
The entire trip will conclude, on Sunday, September 29, with a mass at 10 in the morning at the King Baudouin stadium. The Pope will deliver the homily and pray the Angelus with the faithful present. Then, at 12:15 p.m., he will move to Melsbroek Air Base for the farewell ceremony. At 12:45 p.m. he will depart for Rome, where landing at the Rome / Fiumicino international airport is scheduled for 2:55 p.m.
