A Joyful and Historic Visit to Luxembourg

Excitement filled Luxembourg as Pope Francis embarked on his Apostolic Journey, spanning four days with significant spiritual encounters.

Lisa, a pilgrim from Luxembourg with Argentine roots, expressed her emotions after meeting the Pope: “It was very impressive... I never shook hands with someone special like him. I had so many emotions.” Another pilgrim shared, “We made a card asking the Pope for his blessing. He saw it, read it, gave us a thumbs up, and blessed us!”

Only two weeks after his long journey to Asia and Oceania, Pope Francis traveled to the heart of Europe, visiting Luxembourg and Belgium. After meeting privately with Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, the Pope signed the book of honor, where he wrote: “Protection of the dignity of persons, service to the common good, dialogue and international collaboration: this is what makes a state great.”

Luxembourg, a traditionally Catholic country, has become increasingly secularized in recent decades. It is also a multi-ethnic nation, with half of its population made up of migrants. Fr. Jakob Zeilinger, a priest of the Diocese of Luxembourg, described the unique challenges the Church faces: “We have the challenge of how to bring these communities together, how to celebrate Mass together, even if the question of language is difficult. In Luxembourg, it’s normal to celebrate Mass in 3-4 languages, so that everyone can understand at least a little bit.”

In the afternoon, Pope Francis addressed the Catholic community at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, encouraging the faithful to be “missionaries, ready to bear witness to the joy of the Gospel.” The Pope also delivered a golden rose, a symbol of the papal blessing, to the statue of Our Lady Consoler of the Afflicted for the 400th anniversary of its veneration.

Fr. Jakob Zeilinger highlighted the significance of the visit: “To see Pope Francis coming here... and there are ten thousand people who come together to meet him, it shows that our Church in Luxembourg is not dying. There is still hope, and a lot of young people are happy to meet Pope Francis. I hope this gives us an impulse to restart something.”

A Warm Welcome in Belgium

Later that day, Pope Francis boarded a flight to Belgium, where he was welcomed by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. Belgium, historically Catholic, has become one of Europe’s most secular and progressive nations, especially with the legalization of euthanasia in 2002.

Belgian journalist Thomas Philipp Reiter remarked: “The Church here faces topics like euthanasia, climate change, and the rights of women... These discussions are ongoing in politics and within the Church, and there’s no end in sight.”

The main focus of Pope Francis’ visit to Belgium was to mark the founding of the world’s oldest Catholic university, the Catholic University of Leuven, renowned for its theology faculty. Corentin, a student at the university, shared: “For me, the most important message is the message of peace. Today there are conflicts in Europe and in Israel.” Another student, Benoit, appreciated the Pope’s message on the environment: “I study Science, so I take atmospheric and chemical pollution seriously. It’s a big issue, even in Belgium.”

Louis, another student, expressed his hope: “I hope people will become Catholic and that we can stick together.”Another student, Leonardo, said, “I hope Pope Francis can inspire some young Christians who no longer practice and spark an interest in studying the word of God.”

During his visit, the Pope encouraged professors at the university, urging them to make “academic and cultural formation a critical space that both understands and speaks about life.” Professor Rik Torfs of the University of Leuven emphasized the importance of humility in academia, noting the Pope’s critique of “feeling superior to others.”

Honoring King Baudouin and Addressing Abuse

Pope Francis also visited the tomb of King Baudouin, the Catholic Belgian monarch who temporarily abdicated his throne in 1990 to avoid signing a law legalizing abortion. The Holy Father’s gesture was a tribute to the King’s moral courage in the face of political pressure.

During the trip, Pope Francis also met with victims of abuse, stressing the need for transparency and justice: “In the Church, there is room for everyone, but there is no room for abuse or covering it up. The evil must be brought into the light, and the accuser—whether layperson, priest, or bishop—must be judged.”

A Blessed Beatification in Brussels

The journey culminated with a Mass in Brussels’ stadium, attended by nearly 40,000 people. During the Mass, Pope Francis beatified Carmelite Sister Ana de Jesús, a spiritual daughter of St. Teresa of Ávila and a companion of St. John of the Cross.

For many, this was their first time seeing the Pope. A young immigrant family expressed their joy: “I had goosebumps... I have teary eyes because we saw the Pope for the first time.” Their young daughter added with a laugh, “I hope he stays until he’s 100 years old, so we can receive more blessings from him.”

Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey to Luxembourg and Belgium was a reminder of hope and faith, touching the lives of countless people and reinforcing the Church’s mission in a modern, often secularized world.

Adapted by Jacob Stein