Bolivian President Evo Morales confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Bolivia next year in order to meet with indigenous organizations.
This will mark Pope Francis’s second visit to South America since becoming selected as the pontiff of the catholic church March 2013. Howeverm specific dates have not been released yet
“He has lots of interest in meeting with the various social sectors, on the sideline of official ceriomonial acts he would like to meet with meet with various segments of social movements,” said Morales during a press conference in the city of Cochabamba.
During his remarks, President Morales also praised Pope Francis' role in the restoration of full diplomatic ties between the United States and Cuba.
In October, the head of State of Bolivia and the Pope participated in the World Meeting of Popular Movements in Rome. Later, they dined at the Papal residence in the back of Saint Peter's Church in the Vatican.
According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, Pope Francis, the leader of the world’s nearly 1.1 billion Catholics, enjoys broad support across much of the world. A median of 60 percent of those surveyed across 43 nations have a favorable view of the pontiff.
Latin America — the pope’s home region — also gives him high marks, with 72 percent saying they have a positive opinion.
Despitethe pope’s high popular opinion, a separate study carried out by the Pew Research Center reveals that identification with Catholicism has declined throughout the region.
During his official visit the Pope will also likely visit Ecuador and Paraguay.