Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis, president of the Brazilian episcopal conference, said Thursday that Pope Francis confirmed he will visit Brazil in July for World Youth Day.
“I had the opportunity to speak with Bergoglio (Pope Francis) and he told me yesterday that he is going to Brazil,” Cardinal Damasceno said, according to the Brazilian newspaper Estadao.
“I know him very well. We worked together in [the bishops’ conference at] Aparecida. It was a great election,” the cardinal added.
Referring to the conclave, Cardinal Damasceno commented: “Bergoglio kept emerging [in the vote], and it was a beautiful surprise.”
