Pope Benedict will visit Paris and the shrine of Lourdes in southwest France in September, the Vatican said on Friday.
The main purpose of the trip from Sept. 12 to 15 would be to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the date in 1858 when the Madonna was said to have appeared to a peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous.
Lourdes is Roman Catholicism's premier shrine and the Church has recognised more than 65 cases of what it calls miraculous healings among thousands of pilgrims who have said they left Lourdes free of their ailments.
In Paris, Benedict will meet President Nicolas Sarkozy and hold several religious events, including a service in Notre Dame cathedral and an open-air mass at the Invalides Esplanade.
He will also meet members of France's Jewish community.
The pope leaves later this month for Australia to preside at the Church's World Day of Youth.
-
Nicaragua bans international visitors from bringing in Bibles
-
Large crowds join Tommy Robinson's Christmas carol service
-
Controversial US bishop to give BBC Christmas message
-
The little-known history of the X in Xmas
-
Pastor who gave sermon near abortion clinic stands trial
-
Who was the historical King Herod?
Most Popular
News
13 Christians abducted in church attack in Nigeria
Thirteen Christians have been abducted by a militia group in Nigeria following a skirmish in Kogi State.
Former moderator of Church of Scotland teams up with pop star to release Christmas song
What do you do when you've retired from leading a church?
Christians protest LGBT nativity play where Jesus is 'King of the Gays'
The university and students' union said the play was within the bounds of free speech laws.
Pro-life campaigner who silently prayed in abortion clinic buffer zone criminally charged
A pro-life campaigner who silently prayed near an abortion clinic in Birmingham has been criminally charged.