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.

Notre-Dame Cathedral will soon reopen its doors after undergoing a five-year renovation period. A fire on April 15, 2019 left significant damage to the iconic cathedral and prompted its yearslong closure to the public. For over eight centuries, the cathedral has been a place of worship and gatherings, as well as a popular tourist attraction.