Pope Francis is very likely to visit Myanmar and Bangladesh before the end of the year, a Vatican source has told Reuters news agency.
The trip, which would be the first time any pope has visited Myanmar, is due to be officially announced in the next few weeks, added the source, who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity.
The Vatican has so far officially said only that a trip to both countries is “under study”.
A Vatican team is currently visiting both countries where it is thought they are looking into practical details before reporting back to the pope.
The Vatican officials arrived in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw on 22 August, joining church officials from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Myanmar to coordinate logistics and discuss security issues with the concerned authorities, UCAN news reports.
A day earlier, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon lead a delegation of bishops to meet with the Myanmar's military chief Min Aung Hlaing to discuss the planned Papal visit.
UCAN news reports that the bishops refused to confirm the trip, telling the news agency only that the Holy See and the government are still in discussions and to wait for an official announcement.
The news agency previously reported senior clergy sources saying that Pope Francis will arrive in Myanmar in late November for four nights. It is expected that he will first visit Naypyidaw where he will meet President Htin Kyaw and the country's de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
In Bangladesh, he is expected to make a three-day visit, where it is probable he will make courtesy visits to President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Myanmar is currently facing international scrutiny over atrocities against its Rohingya community. In February, Pope Francis issued a strong defence of the right of Burma’s Rohingya Muslims to ‘live their faith’, and criticised the country’s government for an alleged campaign of persecution.
The Vatican and Myanmar established full diplomatic relations in May when its de facto civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, met with Francis in Rome. Following the meeting, the Holy See announced it will establish an embassy in Myanmar, a diplomatic coup for Pope Francis as he attempts to extend the Church’s 'soft power' political influence in Asia.
There are about 700,000 Roman Catholics in Myanmar according to Cardinal Bo, out of a population of about 51.4 million, the majority of whom are Buddhist.
Pope John Paul II visited Bangladesh, which is largely Muslim but has a tiny Catholic minority, in 1986.
PICTURE: Francis and Aung San Suu Kyi are seen at the Vatican in May
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