26 September, 2024, was an important and historic day for Luxembourg, marking a rare and significant occasion as the Pope made a visit to the country.
The last papal visit to Luxembourg was in 1985, when Pope John Paul II came to the country. Now, 39 years later, Luxembourg welcomed another historic visit from the head of the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis spent a total of eight hours in the Grand Duchy, packed with meetings and public appearances. The day began with a meeting at the Grand Ducal Palace with Grand Duke Henri and Prime Minister Luc Frieden, followed by an official ceremony at the Cercle Cité in the city center. The Pope then toured the city center in his iconic "popemobile," drawing thousands of people into the streets to catch a glimpse of him in person.
In the afternoon, Pope Francis met with the Catholic community at the Cathedrale Notre-Dame. He delivered speeches in Italian, both at Cercle Cité and in the cathedral. However, one statement – absent from his prepared manuscript – sparked controversy: the Pope encouraged Luxembourgers to have more children, citing concerns over the country’s low birth rate.
The visit concluded shortly after 6p, when Pope Francis departed Luxembourg aboard a Luxair flight, heading to Brussels for his next appearance.
