"The visit of His Holiness the Pope Francis to Latvia in the year of the centenary of the state is a great honor for our country and its people. This year is the reference point for all the work done so far and at the same time an opportunity to lay a solid foundation for future generations," Vējonis said, adding that the visit of the Pope would provide encouragement to build a "better, fairer and more cohesive Latvia."
During the visit, it is planned that the Pope will take part in an ecumenical service at the Riga Dome Church, as well as celebrate Holy Mass at Aglona Basilica in the eastern Latgale region.
The visit will be part of a tour of the Baltic States that will take place from 22 to 25 September, during which time he will also visit Vilnius and Kaunas in Lithuania and Tallinn in Estonia.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's visit to Latvia.
