Pope Francis is preparing to travel to Luxembourg and Belgium this week despite a mild cold. His trip is set to feature several important underlying themes as he sets foot in one of Europe’s most secular nations and prepares to deliver messages to a continent marred by war.
The Pope's 26-29 September visit to Luxembourg and Belgium will mark his 46th international trip as pope, with a total of 77 countries visited since his election to the papacy in 2013. But his visit to Belgium could be one of his most challenging yet. Once one of Europe's most Catholic nations, Belgium is now one of the continent's most progressive bastions for modern secularism.
