Pope Francis, heart, is greeted by Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri, upon his arrival on the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg to start his four-day go to to Luxembourg and Belgium, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. | Picture credit score: AP
Pope Francis arrived in Luxembourg on Thursday (26 September 2024) for a quick go to to one in every of Europe’s smallest international locations earlier than a weekend journey to Belgium, the place he’ll spotlight the wants of migrants and meet a gaggle of survivors of abuse by Catholic clergy.
It’s a uncommon go to to Europe for the pope, who usually goes to locations the place no pope has ever visited or the place Catholics are a small minority. It comes lower than two weeks after Francis returned from a demanding 12-day tour of 4 international locations in Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Learn additionally: Pope presents refuge to jailed Myanmar Suu Kyi: report
The 87-year-old pontiff, who makes use of a wheelchair due to knee and again ache, was taken off the ITA Airways constitution flight in a cell elevator.
He was greeted at Findel Worldwide Airport by Luxembourg’s monarch, Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Prime Minister Luc Frieden and a gaggle of round 100 schoolchildren, all wearing maroon-coloured sweaters.
The Pope will then maintain personal conferences with the Grand Duke and the Prime Minister earlier than delivering a speech to the nation’s political authorities. He will even meet native Catholics at Notre Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg Metropolis.
“In Belgium he’ll maintain a non-public assembly with 15 survivors of abuse,” mentioned the nation’s ambassador to the Vatican, Patrick Renault.
In response to a Church report, greater than 700 complaints and allegations of abuse affecting the Church have been filed in Belgium since 2012. In March, the Pope defrocked a former Belgian bishop who admitted to sexually abusing two nephews.
On Friday morning, the Pope will meet with King Philippe of Belgium and Prime Minister Alexander De Croÿ, after which ship a speech.
On the flight from Rome on Thursday morning, September 26, the Pope briefly greeted the journalists touring with him on the airplane, however didn’t stroll across the airplane to satisfy them individually, as he often does.
The Pope mentioned he didn’t really feel sturdy sufficient to “make the journey” behind the single-aisle airplane.
“Luxembourg, a rustic with an space of 2,586 sq. kilometres (998 sq. miles), has about 271,000 Catholics amongst its inhabitants of 654,000,” the Vatican mentioned.
Printed – September 26, 2024 03:46 pm IST
