Pope Francis will sit Ireland for six days in August, it has been confirmed.
The 81-year-old will arrive in Dublin on 25 August to take part in the Festival of Families, a faith-based cultural concert, in Croke Park.
Further details will be released at a later date but it has been announced that the Pope will celebrate Mass in the Phoenix Park on 26 August.
When Pope John Paul II visited Ireland in 1979, more than one million people attended an open air Mass at the park.
It is not yet known if Pope Francis will travel across the border to Northern Ireland.
The announcement of the visit was welcomed by the Catholic Bishops' Conference.
In a statement, the bishops said: "We are deeply honoured that Pope Francis will come to our country to participate in this universal church celebration of faith and joy, as well as of the contemporary challenges which face families.
"With great anticipation we also look forward to hearing the apostolic guidance of His Holiness during his stay with us.
"Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, as President of the World Meeting of Families 2018, has been charged with undertaking the significant task of organising this global celebration and each of the other 25 dioceses on the island of Ireland is supporting the host diocese to ensure its success for the whole country and for the world.
"We eagerly await the visit of Pope Francis, which no doubt will be an occasion of spiritual renewal for our laity, religious and clergy as well as a strengthening of Christian family life."
Agencies contributed to this report
