Pope Francis from Argentina, who is the first Pontiff in over twelve centuries from outside Europe, is planning to visit Ecuador and at least two other South American countries in July of this year.
Departing from Manila, capital of the Phillipines, where he drew a crowd estimated at 6-million, Francis told an in-flight news conference he plans to visit Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay. Vatican officials confirmed that planning is underway for the visits to take place in July.
The Pope also detailed his plans for a three-city U.S. trip in September of this year: speaking to Congress and the United Nations, and participating in a massive rally for Catholic families, to be held in Philadelphia.
Francis also confirmed that he hoped to visit Chile, Uruguay and his native Argentina in 2016.
The 6-million who attended the final Papal Mass in Manila on Sunday was an unprecedented turnout.
Sources: Associated Press, CBS News.