(ZENIT News / Roma, 01.23.2024).- The international travel agenda of Pope Francis is taking shape more and more. In an interview on January 14, the Pontiff mentioned, «In August, I have to make the trip to Polynesia, very far away, and after that, the one to Argentina would be made if it can be done. I want to go there.» Regarding Argentina, the Pope also said, «There, people are suffering a lot. It is a difficult time for the country. The possibility of making a trip in the second half of the year is being considered because there is a change of government, there are new things…»
In the case of Argentina, the Pope already has the official invitation from President Milei. As for Polynesia, it is not exactly known which country in that geographical region he would visit (Polynesia is composed of four nations, namely: Samoa, Kiribati, Tonga, and Tuvalu, and by five territories of the United States, France, New Zealand, Chile, and the United Kingdom in that area).
But Polynesia and Argentina are not the only places for 2024. In an audience granted to members of the Communist Party of Vietnam on January 18, Pope Francis told them that he intends to visit the country. The Pope’s desire must have some seriousness, as the Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Richard Paul Gallagher, will visit Vietnam in April 2024. And as far as is known, after him, Cardinal Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Pope, will also go to Vietnam. Moreover, in December 2023, Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong sent a letter to the Pope inviting him to visit the country. During the return trip from Mongolia, Pope Francis had already expressed the desire to go to Vietnam.
The Canary Islands would be another destination for the Pope in 2024. On January 15, 2024, Pope Francis received a special audience with the president of the Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain, and the three bishops from that Spanish region: Tenerife and the titular and auxiliary bishops of Gran Canaria. The Pope learned about the drama and crisis resulting from migration waves from Africa and expressed his desire to visit the region. This trip could become a reality since the Canary Islands are on the way to Argentina, and thus, this trip could take place in the second half of 2024 as well.
