Pope Francis will travel to Panama in January to participate in the Catholic Church’s big youth rally, the Vatican has confirmed.
The January 23-27 trip, which was expected, will be Francis’ third World Youth Day.
He attended the event in Brazil in 2013, months after his election, and in Poland in 2016.
A brief statement from the Vatican said the pope had accepted an invitation from the Panamanian government and Catholic bishops to visit.
The statement on Monday made no mention of a Salvador leg of the January trip.
While in Panama, Francis is expected to consecrate a colonial-era basilica that recently was restored.
Panamanian organisers said they also were looking to set up papal visits to people who are sick or living on the margins, typical stops during Francis’ trips abroad.
President Juan Carlos Varela tweeted that he “shares the joy and excitement of the Panamanian people” and promised full government support for the pope’s visit.
