Belgian Bishops Raised €800,000 to Cover Pope Francis’ 2024 Visit Costs

Although the Pope does not own a private jet, papal visits are known to involve enormous financial and logistical efforts. This reality was evident during Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to Belgium in September 2024, marking the 600th anniversary of the Catholic universities of Leuven and Leuven-la-Neuve.

The two-and-a-half-day visit cost more than €3 million ($3.5 million / ₦5.3 billion). While much of the cost was initially covered by donations from the faithful, the Belgian Catholic Bishops’ Conference has announced that €800,000 (₦1.4 billion) is still needed to settle outstanding debts.

Why the Costs Were So High

Patrick du Bois, who oversaw logistics for the visit, explained that:

• The state handled public security, but the local Church covered all internal expenses — including lodging, meals, and laundry for the Pope’s 65-member Vatican delegation.

• The bishops also bore the cost of television production since all papal events must be filmed and shared freely worldwide.

• Travel costs, including those of journalists, were also the responsibility of the Church.

Du Bois highlighted the magnitude of the task: “The organizational efforts are enormous, because large crowds gather around the Holy Father, and his security requires very strict measures.”

Funded by the Faithful

Despite the high costs, the visit drew large crowds:

• 40,000 people attended Mass at King Baudouin Stadium.

• Over 5,000 youth joined the “Hope Happening” festival at the Heysel esplanade.

The bishops explained that nearly €2 million ($2.35 million) was raised from lay contributions to fund the pastoral events, stadium rentals, and security for attendees, who participated free of charge.

To clear the remaining debt, the Belgian Bishops’ Conference has designated collections during Masses on September 20–21, 2025, as part of the fundraising effort.