Pope Francis is to have a reduced schedule in Rome this month, the Vatican has announced.
There will be no Wednesday general audience for July, although the Pope will continue his Sunday address and Angelus prayer.
During July, all audiences with the Pope are expected to be suspended, other than a meeting with members of the Catholic charismatic renewal movement on July 3 in St Peter’s Square.
Pope Francis will not invite groups of Catholics to his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae, for his early morning Mass throughout July and August.
Despite the reduced schedule, the 78-year-old Pope will visit Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay July 5-12, returning to the Vatican on July 13.
During his South American visit, the Pope will attend more than 37 events.
As Pope, and when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Francis has not taken full vacations.