Ajaccio: Pope Francis is set to visit the French island of Corsica on December 15, marking a historic occasion as it will be the first-ever papal visit to the island. The Vatican confirmed the news, with spokesman Matteo Bruni announcing that the pope had accepted an invitation from both French civil and Church authorities to visit the capital city of Ajaccio.

This visit will be Pope Francis’ 47th foreign apostolic trip and his third visit to French territory. He has previously visited Strasbourg in 2014 and Marseille in 2023. The visit is significant not only as a pastoral mission but also as a continuation of the pope’s engagement with the Mediterranean region, where he has highlighted the importance of solidarity with migrants and coastal communities. In the past, he has made similar trips to Lampedusa, Lesbos, and Malta.

Corsica, famous for its stunning sea views, is the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte and is home to a population of around 340,000, with over 80% identifying as Catholic. The pope will be welcomed by Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo, who was named a cardinal by Pope Francis last year and leads the island’s diocese.

Pope Francis’ visit will be one of his shortest international trips, covering approximately 186 miles from Rome to Ajaccio’s Napoleon Bonaparte Airport. The flight will take less than an hour and a half, making this journey a quick yet meaningful visit to the Mediterranean’s fourth-largest island.

Pope Francis Urges a Fresh Look at Church History, Free from Ideologies

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Historic Meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican