Pope Francis visits Belgium and Luxembourg: Addressing pressing global, church issues

After his recent journey to Asian and Oceanian countries early this September, Pope Francis is set to fly again for a visit to Belgium and Luxembourg on 26-29 of the same month.

According to the Vatican News, the apostolic visit would revolve around today’s pressing issues, including peace, migration, climate, and the future of the young. 

The visit would also touch on church issues, including the role of Christianity in the widening secularization, and the contribution of Christian education to world development.

“Secularisation is an issue, but more so perhaps is the challenge of Christian witness in Europe where Christianity is less known than in the past, full of questions, many unexpressed, with a perception of decline," said Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Office. "There are already attempts to respond to these matters within these communities that will be encouraged by the Pope.”

Pope Francis’ itinerary in Belgium includes the beatification of Venerable Anna de Jesus, a Spanish Discalced Carmelite nun who established monasteries in Europe and led one in Brussels for 14 years.

Also, Pope Francis’ itinerary includes the Catholic University of Louvain, which is celebrating its 600th founding anniversary.

About 44 percent of the population of Belgium are Catholics, making Catholicism the biggest religion in this country.

Pope John Paul II also visited Belgium in 1995 and beatified Saint Damien de Veusterin, a Belgian missionary who died among the lepers in Hawaii whom he had served.

Pope Francis would land at 10 Am today September 26 in Luxembourg (Luxembourg time) before heading to Belgium.

Luxembourg, a small landlocked country that shares a border with Belgium to the west, is more than 73 percent Catholic.