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. |
Otago Regional Council votes to keep halfFa'anānā Efeso Collins: Warning over fake livestream links for funeralHow the New Zealand Falcons are tackling stigma against LGBT people in sportsWeek in Politics: Government's year starts with a problemFormer National MP Alfred Ngaro interviewed by police after family fight next to mum’s coffinKiwiRail in talks to cancel contracts for new Interislander ferriesWeek in Politics: Government's year starts with a problemEDITORIAL: Nissan rebuke shows preying on suppliers still exists in JapanUkraine support package worth $87b agreed by EU leadersBNP Paribas focuses on offshore investor demand for NZX