By Charles Igwe
Pope Francis is set to embark on his 46th international journey from September 26-29, visiting Luxembourg and Belgium. During this trip, the Pope will address key global and Church-related themes, including peace, migration, climate change, and the future of young people. He will also focus on the role of Christianity in increasingly secular societies and the importance of Christian education.
A major highlight of the visit is the 600th anniversary celebration of the Catholic University of Louvain, founded in 1425, which is one of the key reasons for the Pope’s visit.
Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, reassured the public about the Pope’s health after he canceled some engagements due to a mild flu-like condition. He confirmed that there are no further updates and that the trip is proceeding as planned.
Pope Francis’ visit will mirror that of Pope John Paul II, who visited Luxembourg and Belgium in 1985. The current Pope is scheduled to meet with the students and academic communities at both the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and the Université Catholique de Louvain, just as John Paul II did during his visit. Additionally, Pope Francis will preside over the beatification of Venerable Anna de Jesus during a Mass at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. Anna de Jesus led a monastery in Brussels for 14 years. The event recalls Pope John Paul II’s 1995 beatification of Saint Damien de Veuster, a Belgian missionary who served lepers in Hawaii, sacrificing his life for them.
In a region that has seen significant secularization, with only 8,400 Catholics in Belgium and fewer than 300 in Luxembourg, the Pope’s visit aims to invigorate Christian witness in a Europe where Christianity is less prominent than in the past. Mr. Bruni acknowledged that while secularization is a challenge, there are ongoing efforts within these communities to address it, and Pope Francis’ visit will bring encouragement and inspiration to these initiatives.
