Pope Francis will travel to the Mediterranean island of Corsica on Dec. 15. It's his third visit to France that avoids the capital and all the pomp and protocol that accompanies a proper state visit.

Pope Francis will visit the French Mediterranean island of Corsica in December, days after skipping the reopening of Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral which was ravaged by a fire in 2019, the Vatican said Saturday.

By Lisa Zengarini The director of the Holy See's Press Office, Matteo Bruni, announced on Saturday that Pope Francis will travel to the French island of Corsica on 15 December, marking his 47th Apostolic Journey abroad and the first-ever visit of a Pope to the French Mediterranean island.

Pope Francis is set to visit the French island of Corsica next month to participate in a congress on religiosity in the Mediterranean region and celebrate Mass, the Vatican announced on Saturday. The island has never received a visit from a pope.

After days of behind-the-scenes talks, the pope's visit to Corsica on December 15 was confirmed by the Vatican. It will be a historic first for the island. Three weeks remain for the diocese and the city of Ajaccio to solve all the diplomatic and logistical challenges.

The journey includes Mass at Place d’Austerlitz and meetings with local clergy under Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo.

The Bishop of Ajaccio, Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo, speaks to Vatican News about Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey to Corsica in mid-December and says he considers it a special present for the local Church.

Pope Francis will visit Corsica on Dec. 15, the Vatican said on Saturday, the first recorded trip of a pope to the French Mediterranean island. The short visit to the island's capital Ajaccio, where Francis is expected to speak at a conference on popular religiosity across the Mediterranean region,