Looking back at the Pope's visit to Belgium in 2024 (photos)

Pope Francis peacefully passed away at the age of 88. In tribute, we take a look back at the pontiff's official visit to Belgium a few months back in September 2024.

During his stay, the Pope travelled through Brussels, Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve to participate in multiple festivities and meetings.

A crowd of nearly 40,000 gathered for Sunday Mass held at Roi Baudouin Stadium. It was the culmination of the four day visit organised at the invitation of the Catholic universities of UC Louvain and KU Leuven to celebrate their 600th anniversary.

However, his trip was marked by the Catholic Church's sexual abuse scandal in Belgium. The visit came almost exactly a year after the damning Flemish documentary Godvergeten revealed the extent of sexual abuse in the Belgian Church.

Rainy arrival

The papal plane landed at Melsbroek military airport shortly before 19:10 on Thursday 26 September 2024 amidst challenging weather conditions.

Pope Francis had to remain inside his plane waiting for the storm to pass, complicating the arrangements for his welcome ceremony.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde were on hand to greet the pontiff at the airport. After a shortened welcome at the airport, the head of the Catholic Church headed to the Apostolic Nunciature in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.

The arrival of the Papal Plane at Melsbroek military airport. Credit: Belga

Pope Francis, King Philippe of Belgium and Queen Mathilde of Belgium pictured during the arrival of the Papal Plane at Melsbroek military airport in Steenokkerzeel on Thursday 26 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Dirk Waem

Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Pope Francis and King Philippe of Belgium pictured during the arrival of the Papal Plane at Melsbroek military airport in Steenokkerzeel on Thursday 26 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Dirk Waem

Day 1: Laeken Castle & Leuven

On first day at the Royal Palace in Laeken, Pope Francis condemned the longstanding sexual abuse within the Church on Friday in his first speech addressed to the nation.

The Catholic Church "must be ashamed and ask forgiveness" for the sexual violence committed against minors by clergy in Belgium, he said in his speech.

Pope Francis also said that he was "saddened" by the tragedy of the forced adoptions of children with the complicity of nuns in Belgium between the 1950s and 1970s. He, however, stopped short of apologising to the victims.

Pope Francis pictured during a papal visit to the Royal Castle in Laeken, Brussels on Friday 27 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Dirk Waem

Pope Francis pictured during a papal visit to the Royal Castle in Laeken -, Brussels on Friday 27 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Dirk Waem

Queen Mathilde, Pope Francis, King Philipe, and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo at the Royal Castle in Laeken, Friday 27 September 2024. Credit: Belga

Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Pope Francis and King Philippe of Belgium pictured during a papal visit to the Royal Castle in Laeken, Brussels on Friday 27 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Olivier Hoslet

Pope Francis pictured during an academic session at a papal visit to the KU Leuven University on Friday 27 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand

Pope Francis and pictured during a ride through the city of Leuven on the popemobile, after a visit to the KU Leuven university on Friday 27 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Dirk Waem

Day 2: Saint-Gilles surprise & Koekelberg

On Saturday, Pope Francis made a surprise visit to the Church of Saint-Gilles in Brussels, where he met with disadvantaged people and a local association which provides them with breakfast every weekend.

He was scheduled to meet with leaders of the Belgian Catholic Church on Saturday morning at the Basilica of Koekelberg, but made the impromptu visit to Saint-Gilles beforehand.

Pope meets undocumented migrants and homeless people in Saint-Gilles. Credit: Vatican Media / X

People cheer on pope Francis at a papal visit to meet Belgian clergy at the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg, Brussels on Saturday 28 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck

Worshippers attend a papal visit to meet Belgian clergy at the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg, Brussels on Saturday 28 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck

Pope Francis leaves in a Fiat 500 popemobile after a papal visit to meet Belgian clergy at the Koekelberg Basilica, Saturday 28 September 2024. Credit: Belga

Pope Francis meets citizens at a papal visit to the UC Louvain university in Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve on Saturday 28 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand

Pope Francis pictured on stage during a papal visit to the UC Louvain university in Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve on Saturday 28 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand

Day 3: Stadium Sunday Mass

A crowd of around 37,500 gathered in Brussels on Sunday morning to attend a mass in Roi Baudouin Stadium led by the Pope.

During the mass, Pope Francis called for bishops to condemn those who commit abuses, and not to help cover up wrongdoing.

"It's important to expose the abuses and speak out against those who commit them," he emphasised. "Abusers must be judged, whether they are laypeople, priests, or bishops," he added.

Pope Francis leads a holy mass at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday 29 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand

Pope Francis arrives for a holy Mass at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday 29 September 2024. Credit: Belga

Pope Francis leads a holy mass at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday 29 September 2024. Credit: Belga

Worshippers receive communion during a holy mass at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday 29 September 2024. Credit: Belga

Worshippers attend a holy mass at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday 29 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand

Pope Francis (C) leads a holy mass at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday 29 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand

A program and a flag pictured before the start of a holy mass at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday 29 September 2024. Credit: Belga

Departure

Despite reports that the 87-year-old had been unwell and would have to cancel some appointments, he maintained a busy schedule and even surprised followers with unscheduled meetings.

Bart Deschacht, activist against abuse in the church, holds a protest action at the Sint-Salvatorskathedraal cathedral in Brugge, on the occasion of the papal visit to Belgium on Saturday 28 September 2024. Credit: Belga

Pope Francis arrives for his departure home, from the military airport in Melsbroek, Steenokkerzeel on Sunday 29 September 2024. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck