Pope Francis preparing to visit Panama

On the eve of his departure for Panama on the occasion of the XXXIV World Youth Day, Pope Francis went this morning to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major to pause in prayer before the icon of Our Lady, Help of the Roman People (Salus Populi Romani).  News of this was spread via a tweet which was published by the ad interim director of the Holy See Press Office.

The Holy Father's aircraft will depart tomorrow morning, Wednesday, 23 January at 9:35am local time from Rome's Fumicino International Airport and fly directly to Panama where His Holiness will arrive at the Tocumen International Airport at 4:30pm local time.  This is Pope Francis' 20th Apostolic Voyage.  He is the second Pope to visit Panama, following Saint John Paul II who was there on 5 March 1983.