Pope Francis greeted by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde on arrival in Belgium
Pope Francis landed at Melsbroek military airport on Thursday evening as part of his four-day visit to Belgium. After a short delay due to bad weather, he was greeted by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde on the tarmac.
The plane landed just before 19.10, and when the weather cleared, the pope was greeted by dignitaries, including outgoing prime minister Alexander De Croo, Foreign minister Hadja Lahbib and several bishops, who stood under umbrellas on the tarmac. An orchestra performed the Vatican City anthem and Belgium's national anthem.
Once the formalities were complete, the pope left the airport in a white Fiat 500, heading to the apostolic nunciature in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, where he will stay during his visit to Belgium. His next public appearance will be on Friday morning at the Castle of Laeken, where he is expected to make an address just after 9.00.
The visit, which will continue until Sunday afternoon and take in various Belgian cities, is set to be the largest event ever hosted in Leuven. "I've been involved for 35 years, but such a large event has never happened in Leuven," said Marc Vranckx, spokesperson for the local police. "Not even during the previous papal visit in 1985, when Pope John Paul II visited."
The local police have been planning for months, coordinating with other police services, medical teams and city authorities. Vranckx did not disclose specific numbers but said, "a great many officers" would be patrolling in plain clothes and in uniform. Security measures will be strict, with "extensive checks and frisking" in areas where the public is allowed to gather.
"We’ve prepared for many different scenarios," Vranckx said, referencing events in Luxembourg on Thursday, when a woman approached the pope’s vehicle with a sign. "Something unexpected can always happen, but we are prepared for a lot."
Queen Mathilde, Pope Francis and King Philippe at Melsbroek military airport, 26 September 2024 © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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