Leuven (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Pope Francis arrived in Belgium on September 26, 2024, greeted by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. He will celebrate KU Leuven’s 600th anniversary on September 27, with significant police preparations for the expected large crowd.
Pope Francis landed at Melsbroek military airport on Thursday, September 26, 2024, around 7:10 PM. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde were there to greet him, but they had to cut the planned reception short because of a storm. After a quick welcome, the Pope went to the Apostolic Nunciature in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.
How is Leuven preparing for Pope Francis’ visit on September 27?
On Friday, September 27, Pope Francis will visit KU Leuven to celebrate the university’s 600th birthday. He’ll attend an event at the University Hall and later greet people outside the City Hall in the Grote Markt between 5:30 and 6:00 PM. The police in Leuven have been preparing for this visit for months because it’s a huge event for the city. Chief Inspector Vranckx, who has been in the police for over 35 years, said this is the biggest event Leuven has seen, even bigger than when Pope John Paul II visited in 1985. They have made many plans to handle the large crowd and ensure everyone’s safety. The police are working with local authorities and other agencies to manage the crowd, transportation, and security.
The visit is expected to attract many people to the city, making the preparations even more difficult. Vranckx mentioned that the amount of planning needed is larger than anything they have dealt with before. This shows how important the Pope‘s visit is for the local community and the city of Leuven. Vranckx didn’t share exact numbers, but he mentioned that there would be a lot of officers, both in uniforms and regular clothes. In the areas where people can go, there will be thorough checks. The police have made many plans with other police forces, medical teams, and city services to be ready for anything.
