It had been in the air for a long time but so far there had been no official confirmation. Confirmation that comes today directly from the Holy See Press Office: the Pope will participate in the next World Youth Day, scheduled in Lisbonfrom 2 to 6 August.
"On the occasion of the next World Youth Day, and accepting the invitation of the civil and ecclesial authorities of Portugal, His Holiness Pope Francis will travel to Lisbonfrom 2 to 6 August this year, making a visit to the Shrine of Fatima on 5 August."
With these words Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican Press Office, officially confirmed Pope Francis' upcoming trip. The WYD in Lisbon, announced at the last gathering (in Panama in 2019) was initially scheduled for the summer of 2022 but was postponed by a year due to the Covid emergency.
The last three editions of WYD were held every three years (Rio 2013, Krakow 2016, Panama 2019), all "presided" by Bergoglio. World Youth Day was a "creation" of St. John Paul II, who wanted them for the first time in 1985.
For Pope Francis, moreover, this is the second trip to Portugal: in May 2017, in fact, the Pontiff went to Fatima for the centenary of the Marian apparitions and canonized the little shepherds who had witnessed the vision of the Virgin.