AJACCIO, Corsica — Pope Francis' one-day visit to the French island of Corsica on Sunday, two days before his 88th birthday, will focus on the Mediterranean, highlighting local traditions of popular piety on the one hand and migrant deaths and wars on the other.
The visit to Corsica's capital Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon, will be one of the briefest of his papacy beyond Italy's borders, just about nine hours on the ground, including a 40-minute meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
MUCH AWAITED Pope Francis gestures as he arrives in Ajaccio, Corsica island, on Dec. 15, 2024. AP Photo