Pope Francis to make a chilling visit at unexpected location during World Youth Day celebrations in July

Pope Francis will visit the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau during his World Youth Day visit to Poland in July. World Youth Day celebrations will take place in nearby Krakow.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - The Vatican has announced Pope Francis will visit the infamous concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau during his World Youth Day visit to that area in July.

World Youth Day celebrations will take place between July 26-31 this summer in Krakow, Poland. The concentration camp is just 50 miles from the city.

During his visit to the camp, Pope Francis will meet with Jewish faith leaders as well as members of other faiths. He will visit the cell of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who was executed at the camp on August 14, 1941. He will also visit several other locations at the camp, including places where thousands of people were murdered. He is expected to lead prayers at those sites.

Pope Francis will not be the first pope to tour Auschwitz. Pope John Paul II visited in 1979 and Benedict XVI in 2006.

In addition to visiting the camp, Pope Francis will be leading the World Youth Day celebration in Krakow. The celebration is expected to draw over 2.5 million visitors, mostly youth from around the world.

The theme for the World Youth Day celebration will be "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

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