Pope Francis

[grace-land]

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-heartfelt-words-for-typhoon-survivors-jesus-is-there-for-you-80488/


Pope Francis says Mass at Tacloban in the Philippines Jan. 17. Credit: CTV

Manila, Philippines, Jan 16, 2015 / 07:44 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis on Saturday spoke to survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in an impromptu homily, voicing compassion for their plight and encouraging them to look to the love of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

“I’m here to be with you,” he said. “A little bit late, I have to say. But I’m here. I’ve come to tell you that Jesus is Lord. That Jesus never lets us down.”

The Pope acknowledged the plight and the trauma of the typhoon survivors.
 
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-to-typhoon-victims-jesus-will-not-let-you-down
Pope to Typhoon Victims: Jesus Will Not Let You Down
Manila,  January 17, 2015 

Pope Francis promised the victims of Typhoon Yolanda today that the Lord and his Mother will never let them down, in a moving, improvised homily given in Tacloban, which was devastated by the November 2013 typhoon.

Before beginning his homily, the Pope paused at the microphone in silence for a brief moment, then asking the congregation, clad in rain jackets, if he could speak in Spanish. "I have a translator, a good translator," he explained, as the crowd assented with applause.
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azWp52Co_d0
Pope in Philippines - Holy Mass at Tacloban - 2015.01.17
Streamed live on Jan 17, 2015
Starts at 9.30am local time (2.30am CET)
Pope Francis' Apostolic Journey to Sri Lanka and Philippines
Pope Francis celebrates the Holy Mass near Tacloban International Airport

[grace-land]

Just a reminder of the schedule--

http://m.vatican.va/content/francescomobile/en/travels/2015/outside/documents/papa-francesco-sri-lanka-filippine-2015.html

 
Saturday, 17 January 2015

8:15 Departure by plane from Manila to Tacloban   
9:30 Arrival at the airport of Tacloban   
10:00 Holy Mass next to Tacloban International Airport
[Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]   
12:45 Luncheon with some survivors of typhoon Yolanda at the Archbishopric of Palo   
15:00 Blessing of Pope Francis Center for the Poor   
15:30  Meeting with Priests, Religious, Seminarians and families of survivors gathered in the Cathedral of Palo
[Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]   
17:00 Departure by plane for Manila   
18:15 Arrival at Villamor Air Base of Manila   

Sunday, 18 January 2015

9:45 Brief meeting with religious leaders of the Philippines at Santo Tomas University in Manila
10:30 Meeting with the young people in the sports field of the University
[Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]
15:30 Holy Mass at Rizal Park in Manila
[Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]

Monday, 19 January 2015

9:45  Farewell ceremony at the Presidential Pavilion of the Villamor Air Base in Manila
10:00 Departure from Manila for Rome
17:40 Arrival at Ciampino Airport in Rome

[grace-land]

It seems there is a change in the schedule--

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/pope-watch-philippine-leader-differences-clergy-28263492

POPE WATCH: Stormy Weather May Cut Short Tacloban Visit
Jan 16, 2015, 10:57 PM ET

Pope Francis is visiting the Philippine city devastated by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, on a two-country Asia tour that also took him to Sri Lanka. Here are some glimpses of his trip as it unfolds:
———
WEATHER PROBLEMS

The pope may cut short his visit to Tacloban because of an approaching tropical storm.

Those who waited for his outdoor Mass in the morning got soaked by rain, and the winds started kicking up as left. A plastic raincoat he wore over his vestments puffed up in the wind during his open-air motorcade.

The weather bureau has raised the storm alert level for Leyte and nearby provinces.

Tropical Storm Mekkhala, with maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers (60 miles) per hour and gusts up to 130 kph (80 mph), i is expected to make landfall on Samar Island, about 62 kilometers (39 miles) northeast of Tacloban, later Saturday.
 
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/pope-francis-cuts-short-visit-typhoon-hit-philippine-28289376
Pope Francis Cuts Short Visit to Typhoon-Hit Philippine Region Due to Storm; Will Return Early
TACOLOBAN, Philippines — Jan 16, 2015, 11:29 PM ET

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/01/17/pope_francis_saturday_morning_in_the_philippines_/1118624
Pope Francis: Saturday morning in the Philippines
17/01/2015 06:20



(Vatican Radio) In the Philippines, it never rains – it pours. And, in Tacloban – it storms.

It was here that, on November 8th 2013, the six-metre high waves generated by Super Typhoon Yolanda, the strongest storm ever recorded on earth, smashed into the homes and lives of thousands of people leaving behind death, destruction, tragedy and loss.

And it was here, at Ground Zero, that Pope Francis chose to come, in the driving wind and rain, despite last-minute warnings to call off the visit entirely. Not that the local survivors ever doubted he would come: protected only by flimsy yellow raincoats (umbrellas were forbidden for security reasons), many of them started lining up outside the Mass site as early as yesterday afternoon. As a simple gesture of solidarity, the Pope himself wore the same yellow raincoat for the rest of the time he was there.

But it was what he said (and left unsaid) that went straight to the hearts of those present. Once again, Pope Francis departed from his prepared homily – this time altogether – in order to speak “heart-to-heart”. And his message was simple: even amidst the greatest challenges and tragedies, “Jesus never lets us down… He walks with us in the most difficult moments of life”. Most touching, though, were the passages when the Pope admitted that he himself was without words: “So many of you have lost everything”, he said. “I don’t know what to say to you. But the Lord does. Some of you have lost part of your families.  All I can do is keep silence and walk with you all with my silent heart... Many of you have asked: why Lord?  And to each of you, to your heart, Christ responds with his heart from the cross. I have no more words for you”.

The fact is, he didn’t need any. The testimony of his presence among them was enough.

The Pope also had no more time. Shortly after Mass, he was told his plane would have to leave almost immediately because weather conditions over the area were intensifying and would soon make take off impossible. But Pope Francis was determined not to disappoint. He knew perfectly well that people had travelled hundreds of miles and waited hours in the rain to see him. So, skipping lunch,  he did meet survivors and victim’s families in the Archbishop’s house and then went straight to the Cathedral where he stopped just long enough to explain why he had to leave in such a hurry, and to give his blessing.
 

[grace-land]

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/01/17/pope_francis_brief_remarks_at_tacloban_cathedral/1118623

Pope Francis: brief remarks at Tacloban cathedral
17/01/2015 05:32



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis made a very brief stop at Tacloban cathedral in the Philippines on Saturday, ahead of his departure from the island of Leyte. The Holy Father's departure was anticipated by four hours, due to the arrival of inclement weather. Bishops, priests, men and women religious, and families affected by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, were scheduled to meet with the Holy Father in the cathedral. Pope Francis was visitng Tacloban, on the island of Leyte, to show solidarity with the people there, who were sorely tried by the destruction caused by the storm. Please find raw audio and a transcript of the Holy Father's remarks, below.
 
Pope Francis: Thank you for your very warm welcome. The cardinal walking in now together with Cardinal Tagle is the Cardinal Secretary of State, Carinal Parolin, and it is his birthday.  Will you sing him something?

[Crowd sings birthday greetings] Thank you.

I have to tell you something that makes me unhappy: the problem is that the way things were planned was that the plane would leave at 5pm this afternoon. But there’s a second grade typhoon, or storm that’s around us and the pilot of the plane has insisted we have to leave at 1pm. We just have time to get to the plane because the weather forecast says after 1pm it will get much worse. So I apologise to all of you.
 
Let’s pray the “Hail Mary” together and then I will give you my blessing.

[grace-land]

At the link below:  LIVE STREAMING--NOW!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyzUDHnhvYc

Pope in Philippines - Meeting with the Youth - 2015.01.18
Started on Jan 18, 2015

Starts at 10.10am local time (3.10am CET)
Pope Francis' Apostolic Journey to Sri Lanka and Philippines
Pope francis meets with the Youth at the Sports Field of the University

[grace-land]

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/103260/pope-pays-tribute-to-young-volunteer-who-died-in-tacloban-asks-youth-to-pray-with-him

Pope pays tribute to young volunteer who died in Tacloban, asks youth to pray with him
January 18, 2015 10:46 AM


The papal mass at the Tacloban airport on Saturday. (AFP)

MANILA, Philippines -- Before addressing the youth at the University of Sto. Tomas Sunday morning, Pope Francis paid tribute to Kristel Mae Padasa, the 27-year old volunteer who died when scaffolding fell on her after the mass at the Tacloban airport the day before.

He then asked the 24,000 young people gathered at the UST football field to offer a silent prayer for her and then pray the Hail Mary “to our Mama, Our Lady in Heaven,” and the Our Father, the Lord’s Prayer, for the parents of Padasa, an only child who worked with the Catholic Relief Services.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.rappler.com/specials/pope-francis-ph/81167-pope-francis-ust-youth-encounter

Pope Francis arrives at UST for youth encounter
Published 9:14 AM, Jan 18, 2015
Updated 10:00 AM, Jan 18, 2015

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Pope Francis arrived at Asia’s oldest pontifical university on Sunday morning, January 18, to deliver his message to the Philippine youth.

The papal convoy left the Apostolic Nunciature at 9:15 am on Sunday, January 18 – slightly earlier than his scheduled 9:30 am departure time – and arrived at the UST grounds 10 minutes later.

Before the youth encounter, the Pope had a brief meet and greet with 10 religious leaders at the university's Arch of the Centuries.
 
During the youth encounter, 3 young Filipinos will share their testimonies in the presence of the Pope – a college student, an out-of-school youth, and a Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) relief volunteer.

Francis will then deliver his message to the Filipino youth, followed by prayers and intercessions to be given by 7 youth delegates from different parts of the country.

University officials expect the papal encounter to spark “spiritual renewal” among young Filipinos, many of whom look up to Francis as a role model. (READ: PH youth follow footsteps of the ‘modern’ Pope Francis)

The papal event at UST is expected to end around noontime.

Francis is the third pope to visit UST, which was conferred pontifical status by Pope Leo XIII in 1902.

Pope Paul VI visited UST on November 28, 1970, and Pope John Paul II on both times he was in Manila – February 18, 1981, and January 13, 1995.

Francis is on the fourth day of his 5-day Philippine visit anchored on the theme, “mercy and compassion." – Rappler.com

[grace-land]

http://www.rappler.com/specials/pope-francis-ph/81210-pope-youth-technology-ust

Pope to youth: Gadgets good but there’s danger
Published 12:01 PM, Jan 18, 2015
Updated 12:16 PM, Jan 18, 2015



MANILA, Philippines – In his first encounter with the Filipino youth at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila, Pope Francis challenged them to “think well, feel well, do well” amid a wave of information brought about by technology.

Tens of thousands gathered at UST on Sunday morning, January 18, to see and listen to Francis, the 3rd pope to visit Asia’s oldest university. He acknowledged the youth who shared their testimonies on stage, noting how one of them spoke about information technology. (READ: Pope, a young Thomasian and going vs the tide)

“With so many means of information we are overloaded with information,” the Pope said. “Is that bad? Not necessarily. It is good and can help.” But he warned: “There is a real danger of living in a wave of accumulation of information. We have so much information. But maybe we don’t know what to do with that information. We run the risk of becoming a museum of young people that has everything but without knowing what to do with them.”

The Pope told the youth: “We don’t need youth museums. But we do need holy young people.”
 

[grace-land]

http://www.rappler.com/specials/pope-francis-ph/81196-girl-breaks-down-pope-francis?cp_rap_source=rfy#cxrecs_s

Girl breaks down before Pope
Published 10:24 AM, Jan 18, 2015
Updated 11:42 AM, Jan 18, 2015


REFUGE. 12-year-old street kid Glyzelle Palomar gets a warm hug from the Pope.

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Why does God allow prostitution, a 12-year-old girl asked Pope Francis, before she broke down and cried.

Carrying a prepared speech to relate her life as a street kid to Pope Francis at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Glyzelle Palomar started by introducing herself as one who lives in the streets who's exposed to all sorts of problems such as drugs and prostitution. "Why does God allow this to happen," she asked in Filipino and then cried and stopped speaking.

Organizers had to console her before she and another street kid, 14-year-old Jun Chura, were brought to the Pope, who gave them a tight hug.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/history-made-philippine-crowd-for-pope-francis-hits-6-7-million-37121/

History made! Philippine crowd for Pope Francis hits 6-7 million



Manila, Philippines, Jan 18, 2015 / 04:39 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican's spokesman said that papal history was made Sunday during Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines where an estimated 6-7 million people attended his closing Mass.

“The official number that has been given to us is between six and seven million,” Father Federico Lombardi told journalists at a press conference in Manila on Sunday, calling it the "largest event of the history of the Popes."

 In his homily for the Jan. 18 Closing Mass in the Philippines, Pope Francis pointed to our identity as God’s children, calling for the protection of the family against the numerous attacks that threaten it.
 

Video at the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dkQQt5y29M
Pope in Philippines - Holy mass - 2015.01.18
Streamed live on Jan 18, 2015
Starts at 3.12pm local time (8.12am CET)
Pope Francis' Apostolic Journey to Sri Lanka and Philippines
Pope Francis celebrates the Holy mass at Rizal Park in Manila.

[grace-land]

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/01/18/millions-flock-to-pope-francis-final-mass-in-philippines/

Millions flock to Pope Francis' final Mass in Philippines
Published January 18, 2015


Jan. 18, 2015: In this aerial photo provided by the Philippine Air Force, a massive crowd of Filipino faithful fill up the Rizal Park during a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Manila, Philippines. (AP/Philippine Air Force)

 
Francis dedicated the final homily of his weeklong Asia trip, which began in Sri Lanka, to children, given that the Mass fell on an important feast day honoring the infant Jesus. His focus was a reflection of the importance that the Vatican places on Asia as the future of the church since it's one of the few places where Catholic numbers are growing -- and on the Philippines as the largest Catholic nation in the region.

"We need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected," Francis said in his homily. "And we need to care for our young people, not allowing them to be robbed of hope and condemned to a life on the streets."

Francis made a triumphant entry into Rizal Park, riding on a popemobile based on the design of a jeepney, the modified U.S. Army World War II jeep that is a common means of public transport here. He wore the same cheap, plastic yellow rain poncho handed out to the masses during his visit to the typhoon-hit eastern city of Tacloban a day earlier.

The crowd -- a sea of humanity in colorful rain ponchos spread out across the 148 acres of parkland and boulevards surrounding it -- erupted in shrieks of joy when he drove by, a reflection of the incredible resonance Francis' message about caring for society's most marginal has had in a country where about a quarter of its 100 million people lives in poverty.

"It was a blessing that we saw him. Even if we were soaked by the rain, we feel fine," said Emmie Toreras, 38, who was wearing a garbage bag to guard against the rain. She said she had slept in the park since Friday to score a view of the pope.

"He loves the poor and people like us," said Toreras, whose husband, a rags vendor, stayed home to work.

Francis dedicated his four-day trip to the Philippines to the poor and marginal. He denounced the corruption that has robbed them of a dignified life, visited with street children and traveled to Tacloban to offer prayers for survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, the deadly 2013 storm that devastated one of the Philippines' poorest regions.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-s-homily-at-mass-in-rizal-park-manila

Pope's Homily at Mass in Rizal Park, Manila
Manila,  January 18, 2015 

Here is the text of the Holy Father's homily during Mass at the "Quirino - Grandstand - Rizal Park" in Manila today.
* * *
A child is born to us, a son is given us (Is 9:5).  It is a special joy for me to celebrate Santo NiñoSunday with you.  The image of the Holy Child Jesus accompanied the spread of the Gospel in this country from the beginning.  Dressed in the robes of a king, crowned and holding the sceptre, the globe and the cross, he continues to remind us of the link between Gods Kingdom and the mystery of spiritual childhood.  He tells us this in todays Gospel: Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it (Mk 10:15).  The Santo Niño continues to proclaim to us that the light of Gods grace has shone upon a world dwelling in darkness, bringing the Good News of our freedom from slavery, and guiding us in the paths of peace, right and justice.  The Santo Niño also reminds us of our call to spread the reign of Christ throughout the world.

In these days, throughout my visit, I have listened to you sing the song: We are all Gods children.  That is what the Santo Niño tells us.  He reminds us of our deepest identity.  All of us are Gods children, members of Gods family.  Today Saint Paul has told us that in Christ we have become Gods adopted children, brothers and sisters in Christ.  This is who we are.  This is our identity.  We saw a beautiful expression of this when Filipinos rallied around our brothers and sisters affected by the typhoon.
 

Video of the papal homily at the link
http://www.romereports.com/pg159979-papal-homily-in-manila-do-not-be-swayed-by-the-devil-and-his-superficial-distractions-en
Papal Homily in Manila: Do not be swayed by the devil and his superficial distractions
2015-01-18

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/cardinal-tagle-thanks-pope-for-visit-to-philippine

Cardinal Tagle thanks Pope for visit to Philippines
2015-01-18 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio)  Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Archbishop of Manila, thanked Pope Francis for his visit to the Philippines on Sunday.  At the conclusion of Mass celebrated by Pope Francis for millions gathered in Manila’s Rizal Park, Cardinal Tagle said his fellow Filipinos would be praying for the Pope and would follow him “to the peripheries” as missionaries of Christ’s light. Pope Francis is due to leave the Philippines on Monday.
 
Below, please find the prepared text for Cardinal Tagle’s remarks:

Most Holy Father,

In the name of the Archdiocese of Manila, the people who worked tirelessly for your pastoral visit, and the Filipinos whom you have been strengthened in faith these past days, I once again say Thank You. I say “Maraming Salamat po” (Thank you very much) on behalf of the street children, the orphans, the widows, the homeless, the informal settlers, the laborers, the farmers, the fisher folk, the sick, the abandoned elderly, the families of missing persons, the victims of discrimination, violence, abuse, exploitation, human trafficking, the Filipino migrant workers and their families, the survivors of natural calamities and armed conflicts, the non-Christian Catholics, the followers of non-Christian religions, the promoters of peace especially in Mindanao and creation that groans. We say again, “Maraming salamat po, Santo Padre.”
 

[grace-land]

More photos at the link

http://www.rappler.com/specials/pope-francis-ph/81256-in-photos-pope-francis-philippines-day-4

IN PHOTOS: Pope Francis in the Philippines, day 4
Published 6:43 PM, Jan 18, 2015
Updated 10:10 PM, Jan 18, 2015

[grace-land]

http://americamagazine.org/content/dispatches/record-crowd-francis-entrusts-double-mission-philippine-catholics

Before Record Crowd, Francis Entrusts a Double Mission to Philippine Catholics
 Jan 18 2015 - 1:35pm



efore a record crowd of between six and seven million people, Pope Francis entrusted a double mission to the Philippine Church at his last public mass in this country on Sunday, January 18, that included both a domestic and an Asian component.

At the domestic level he encouraged them to work for justice, peace, rights and to protect the family, safeguard creation and to eliminate poverty and corruption in this land of 100 million people where, as he said two days ago, there are 'scandalous' inequalities and injustices.

Pope Francis invited the Filipino Church to take up this double mission in his homily at the multilingual mass, with awesome music and singing, in Manila’s Rizal Park, as the rain poured down on the largest crowd ever to participate in a papal mass.   

Exactly twenty years ago to the date,  John Paul II presided over the closing mass for World Youth Day at which some 4 million Filipinos and people from most countries of the world participated.  This time, however, that number was surpassed by the Filipinos alone in an extraordinarily moving expression of faith in the presence of Papa Francisco, Pope Francis, whose simplicity, humility, compassion and love for the poor has captivated their hearts and inspires them.
 

[grace-land]

She was at the Saturday mass in Tacloban.

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/francesco-filippine-38606/

01/17/2015
Imelda Marcos appears among the pilgrims


Imelda Marcos attends the Pope's mass (Photo by: Paloma Garcia Ovejero)

She was in a wheelchair and donned the same yellow raincoat worn by all the other pilgrims, though she was escorted by security guards. Imelda Marcos, widow of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos who died in 1989, was born in Manila but had lived on the island and was known as the “Rose of Tacloban”.
 
Speaking to journalists (including Paloma Garcia Ovejero from Spain’s Radio COPE, who took the photo published in this article), Imelda said: “The Pope’s message is for the poor, he wants to help the poor. If everyone followed the Pope’s example, we would be assured unity and peace.” These words are significant given that many remember Imelda Marcos for her collection of over 2700 pairs of shoes.

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-concludes-trip-to-the-philippines

Pope Francis concludes trip to the Philippines
2015-01-19 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis left Manila on Monday morning, after a weeklong trip to Asia which took him to Sri Lanka and the Philippines. Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos lined the streets of Manila to catch a final glimpse of the Holy Father as he went to the airport.
 
At a press conference after the Pope’s departure, the Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle said everyone in the Philippines was “overwhelmed right now with thanksgiving and gratitude to God” for the trip, and were “challenged” by Pope Francis to face problems such as inequality in the country.
 

http://www.rappler.com/specials/pope-francis-ph/81290-pope-francis-departure
Filipinos bid goodbye to Pope Francis
Published 6:47 AM, Jan 19, 2015
Updated 12:39 PM, Jan 19, 2015

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – Pope Francis ended his 5-day state and pastoral visit today, as he returns to the Vatican after his first-ever trip to the Philippines.

Departure ceremonies for the Pope began at 9:42 am at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on Monday, January 19 where President Benigno Aquino III himself sent the pontiff off.

Aside from Aquino, 13 Cabinet Secretaries also bade Pope Francis goodbye, as well as 12 church leaders and the ambassador of Argentina to the Philippines, Roberto Sebastian Bosch Estevez.

Pope Francis passed through Honor Guards with Aquino and Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on their walk to the airplane, before the President and the Cardinal bade him farewell on the bottom of the plane's stairs.

His ride, a special flight via Philippine Airlines with the flight number PR 8010, took off at 10:12 am Philippine time.

Prior to leaving the nunciature, the Pope met with top government officials who were involved in the preparations for the state and apostolic visit
 

Video at the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ezBgtlCb0g
#PopeFrancisPH: Pope Francis leaves Manila

[grace-land]

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-returns-to-the-vatican-at-conclusion-of-asia

Pope returns to the Vatican at conclusion of Asia visit
2015-01-19 Vatican Radio



Pope Francis has arrived back in Rome at the end of his weeklong trip to Asia, a journey which took him first to Sri Lanka and then onto the Philippines. He arrived at Rome's Ciampino airport on Monday evening and then made a brief visit to the Basilica of St Mary Major before returning to the Vatican.

The papal plane took off from Manila airport for the almost 15 hour flight early on Monday morning, as hundreds of thousands of Filipinos lined the streets of the capital to catch a final glimpse of the Pope.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/africa-south-america-trips-in-popes-sights-for-next-two-years-49979/

Africa, South America trips in Pope's sights for next two years

Vatican City, Jan 19, 2015 / 12:10 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis has revealed that he hopes to make extensive voyages to Africa and Latin America in the next two years.

“The plan is to go to Central African Republic and Uganda. These two, this year,” Pope Francis said during a press conference Jan. 19 on his return flight to Rome from the Philippines.

The Pope’s revelation comes in response to a French journalist aboard the flight.

Pope Francis said the trip to Africa is “a bit overdue.” He said he would have traveled to Africa sooner, if not for the Ebola epidemic.
 
During the in-flight press conference, Pope Francis also confirmed plans to make two separate visits to South America over the next two years.

A trip to South America this year could include stops in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Paraguay. While, a possible visit in 2016 or 2017 could include stops in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru.

The trip would be Pope Francis’ first visit to his home country of Argentina since his election to the papacy in March of 2013.

Vatican spokesperson Fr. Federico Lombardi was quick to clarify that the travel plans are still in the beginning stages.

“Everything is provisional, nothing is decided yet,” Fr. Lombardi said.