杏MAP导航 Francis arrives in Belgium
By Vatican News
A 55-minute flight from Luxembourg brought 杏MAP导航 Francis to Brussels鈥� Melsbroek Air Base on Thursday evening kicking off the second leg of his 46th Apostolic journey abroad.
The first to welcome him to the country were the Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium, Archbishop Franco Coppola and the Ambassador of Belgium to the Holy See, Patrick Renault, who boarded the papal plane shortly after landing.
Awaiting the 杏MAP导航 on the tarmac was the Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussel, Malines-Bruxelles, Luc Terlinden and a delegation of religious and civil authorities.
He was greeted by the guard of honour and a military band that played the national anthems of the Vatican and Belgium. A children鈥檚 choir also had songs of welcome for the Holy Father.
The last 杏MAP导航 to visit Belgium was 杏MAP导航 St. John Paul II in 1995.
After a brief welcome ceremony, 杏MAP导航 Francis traveled to the Apostolic Nunciature where he will reside during his stay in Belgium.
He will pay a courtesy visit to King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians at Laeken Castle on Friday morning before meeting with authorities and representatives of civil society during which he will pronounce his first official discourse in the nation.
One highlight of this visit is to mark the 600th anniversary of the founding of the Catholic University of Leuven, home to one of the world鈥檚 leading theology faculties. On Sunday, 29 September, the last day of the visit, the 杏MAP导航 will celebrate Mass in Brussels鈥� Stadium where more than 35,000 faithful are expected to attend.
Thursday 26 September marks the first day of 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� 46th Apostolic Journey abroad taking him to Luxembourg and Belgium.
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