Rome, October 23 (BNA) Pope Francis hopes to travel to several different countries before the end of the year, including Greece, Congo and Hungary.
He told Argentine news agency Telam in an interview that the pope wanted to go to Greece and Cyprus on the first weekend in December, but his schedule was not finished yet.
He is said to be considering a trip to the island of Lesbos, an important and emblematic site of migration as Europe struggles to respond to people fleeing war and poverty. The German News Agency (dpa) stated that he had visited the island once before.
Francis, 84, has made a point during his tenure to call attention to those on the fringes of society, those in need and those facing discrimination.
An official statement from the Vatican was not immediately available on the travel.
Pope Francis also mentioned other destinations, saying he was still thinking about Congo and Hungary.
He also said he is planning a trip to Oceania next year, which will be the first time he has traveled to the region as Pope.
Pope Francis went to Budapest in September at the end of the World Eucharist Congress, before then heading off to spend three days in Slovakia.
He was also the first pope to visit Iraq, where he met Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in March.