Pope Benedict XVI intends to visit the region of Abruzzo as soon as possible to offer his comfort to the survivors of this week's devastating earthquake there, Vatican sources said on Wednesday.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardo said the visit would not take place before the Easter holidays and was unlikely to happen the week after.
There had been unconfirmed rumors that the pope would celebrate the funeral mass for the quake victims in the region's capital L'Aquila on Friday, Good Friday.
The death toll from Monday's earthquake was put at 250 on Wednesday.
