Pope Francis is expected this evening in Belgium, local media reported. This will be the first visit to the country by the head of the Roman Catholic Church in the last 30 years, BTA quoted.
The program calls for the Holy Father to be met at Brussels airport by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, outgoing Prime Minister Alexandre de Croix, representatives of the local Catholic Church and other officials. Tomorrow the Pope will be received at the royal palace in Laeken and will visit the University of Leuven, where he will deliver a speech and talk to young refugees.
On Saturday, he will meet with representatives of the local church, as well as professors and students from the University of Leuven la Neuve, where issues such as environmental change, the philosophical roots of social crises, inequality, the place of women in society, thrift and sympathy.
The culmination of the visit is expected on Sunday, when at the "King Baudouin" stadium a mass will be celebrated in Brussels that will be broadcast live and is expected to be followed around the world. The stadium has seats for 39,000 people, among whom will be the royal family, politicians and representatives of the diplomatic corps. The hosts have provided an opportunity for people to see and greet the Pope on his way to the stadium.
At lunchtime on Sunday, the Holy Father will be sent to the airport with a short ceremony in which a children's choir will participate. It is noted that during his visit the Pope will meet with 15 victims of sexual assaults in the Belgian Catholic Church.