Pope Francis receives Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis received the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri Albert Gabriel Fèlix Marie Guillaume and his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa Mestre, on Monday.

The private meeting lasted just under a half-hour, and included their Highnesses’ five children, their spouses, and three grandchildren.

The royal family of Luxembourg gave the Holy Father a family portrait, with the Spanish-language dedication, “To our Pope Francis, with the respectful and filial affection our whole family.” Pope Francis gave the family a medal of the pontificate and copies of his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, and his Encyclical Letter, Laudato si’.

Wire services report Pope Francis then blessed the whole family and asked his guests to pray for him. “We shall, Holy Father, count on us,” assured the Grand Duchess – speaking in French – while the Grand Duke, taking his leave, expressed gratitude to the Holy Father “for everything he does for the Church and the world.”