Pope Francis will visit the French Mediterranean island of Corsica in December, days after skipping the reopening of Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral which was ravaged by a fire in 2019, the Vatican said Saturday.

Pope Francis is set to visit the French island of Corsica next month to participate in a congress on religiosity in the Mediterranean region and celebrate Mass, the Vatican announced on Saturday. The island has never received a visit from a pope.

Pope Francis will travel to the Mediterranean island of Corsica on Dec. 15. It's his third visit to France that avoids the capital and all the pomp and protocol that accompanies a proper state visit.