https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDX4S64vz-Y

Pope Francis announced this week he will make his first visit to Africa later this year with stops in Uganda and the Central African Republic, WorldNetworkTV reports.

The number of Catholics in Africa increased from from 55 million in 1978 to 146 million in 2007, according to the Vatican, USAToday reports. More recently, Africa’s Catholic population is closer to 175 million-plus, according to a recent study by Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.

The pontiff made the announcement aboard the papal plane as he headed back to Rome after a week-long visit in Asia, where he drew record crowds. “I think it will be towards the end of the year because of the weather,” he said of his trip to Africa. “The trip has been a bit delayed due to Ebola. It’s a great responsibility.”

The Argentinian pope, the first pontiff from Latin America, also confirmed plans to travel to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay in July and the U.S. in September, according to the L.A.Times. He plans to visit New York, Washington and Philadelphia, according to the CatholicNewAgency.