The Secretary of State of the Vatican revealed on Friday that Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Portugal in August. The announcement was made during a pilgrimage to the shrine of Fatima, located in the heart of the country.

The Argentinian pontiff intends to participate in World Youth Day, a global gathering of young Catholics, which will be held in Lisbon from August 1st to 6th.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in his visit to the town, emphasized the significance of Fatima, stating that it is an essential destination for any visit to Portugal and that previous popes have always held great reverence for it.

He added that the 86-year-old Pope Francis wishes to return primarily for prayer.

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The annual youth event is expected to attract over a million pilgrims and takes place every three years.

Pope Francis previously visited the Fatima shrine in 2017, where he canonized two young shepherds who claimed to have witnessed apparitions of the Virgin Mary over a century ago.

Father Carlos Cabecinhas, the rector of the shrine, expressed that the Pope’s presence in Fatima in August would be a momentous occasion and anticipated that the Argentine pontiff would bring renewed emphasis to the theme of peace.