LOUISVILLE, KY - The Dalai Lama is planning a three-day visit to Louisville next year with events aimed at promoting compassion that connects various religions.

The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader will give a public talk, offer Buddhist teachings and reach out to young people during his May 19-21 visit to Kentucky's largest city.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer on Monday called it a "once-in-a-life opportunity" for people in the area. He called the Dalai Lama an "iconic figure for peace, justice and compassion."

The announcement was made at Louisville's Tibetan Buddhist Center. The event began with a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks chanting the Dalai Lama's prayer for world peace.

The 77-year-old spiritual leader lives in exile in India. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for advocating nonviolent liberation for Tibet.