The Roman Catholic Church of Brazil says Pope Benedict XVI will return to Latin America's largest country in 2013 for World Youth Day.
The National Conference of Brazilian Bishops said on its website Tuesday that the Vatican confirmed the pope's visit to Rio de Janeiro from July 23 to 28 when the church's youth festival is scheduled to take place.
It will be his second visit to Brazil.
Pope Benedict visited Sao Paulo in May 2007 where he celebrated open air Masses and addressed the region's Roman Catholic bishops at a meeting of the Episcopate of Latin America and the Caribbean, which takes place every 10 years.