Pope Francis has arrived in Belgium to begin a three-day apostolic visit packed with significant events and encounters.

After a 55-minute flight from Luxembourg, the Pope landed at Melsbroek Air Base in Brussels on Thursday afternoon, beginning the second leg of his 46th apostolic trip abroad.

Upon his arrival, the Pope was greeted by the Apostolic Nuncio in Belgium, Archbishop Franco Coppola, and the Belgian ambassador to the Holy See, Patrick Renault, who joined him on the papal plane after landing.

On the runway he was awaited by the Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, Luc Terlinden, along with a delegation of religious and civil authorities. The Pope was greeted by an honour guard and a military band playing the national anthems of the Vatican and Belgium. A children’s choir also offered songs of welcome to the Holy Father.

The last Pope to visit Belgium was Saint John Paul II in 1995.

After a brief welcome ceremony, Pope Francis will head to the Apostolic Nunciature, where he will reside during his stay in Belgium.

On Friday morning, the Pope will pay a courtesy call on King Leopold Lodewijk Maria and Queen Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz at Laeken Castle, before meeting with authorities and representatives of civil society, where he will deliver his first official speech in the country.

One of the highlights of this visit will be the commemoration of the 600th anniversary of the founding of the Catholic University of Louvain, which houses one of the most renowned faculties of theology worldwide. On Sunday, September 29, the last day of his visit, the Pope will celebrate Mass at the Brussels Stadium, where more than 35,000 faithful are expected to attend.

September 26 marks the first day of Pope Francis’ 46th Apostolic Journey abroad, taking him to Luxembourg and Belgium.