Pope Francis is to travel to South Korea in August, the Vatican said on Monday, in what will be the first papal visit to the country in 25 years.
“His Holiness Francis will make an Apostolic Trip to the Republic of Korea from 14 to 18 August 2014, on the occasion of the Sixth Asian Youth Day, to be held in the diocese of Daejeon,” Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said in a statement.
Speaking to reporters, Father Lombardi added that Francis was also scheduled to stop in Seoul and take part in a canonisation ceremony for 124 Korean Catholic martyrs from the 18th and 19th century, which the Pope recognised in February.
