Duda's one-day trip on Monday will include a visit to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, where the pontiff is buried, according to Marcin Przydacz, the Polish president's top foreign policy advisor.
"On April 3, the president will travel to Italy, to Rome, where the first item on his itinerary will be a visit to St. Peter's Basilica, which holds the grave of John Paul II," Przydacz told reporters on Thursday.
He added that the trip would be "a symbolic gesture to pay respects" to the former pope, who led the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005.
Sunday, April 2, will mark 18 years since Pope John Paul II died after a pontificate lasting more than 26 years.
John Paul II served as pope from October 16, 1978 until his death on April 2, 2005. He was the third longest-serving pontiff in history and was declared a saint in 2014.
Pope John Paul II, pictured in January 2004. Photo: PAP/EPA (MAURIZIO BRAMBATTI)
John Paul II visited 129 countries during his long pontificate and was a strong supporter of Poland's anti-communist Solidarity movement. He is recognised as a key influence in helping to end communist rule in Poland in 1989.
Polish lawmakers this month adopted a resolution to condemn a "disgraceful media smear campaign against St. John Paul II," and called the late pope “the greatest Pole in history.”
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Source: IAR, PAP
