Pope Francis: Pontiff heads to cuba ahead of US visit

This will be his first trip ever to the United States, and nothing less than 2 million fans are expected to flock to his appearances over the six day visit.

This will be his first trip ever to the United States. The Pope will began his longest papal trip on Saturday September 26, 2015 boarding a plane from Rome's Fiumicino Airport for Havana, Cuba. 

Read: Check the official schedule for the pontiff's visit to US
 

The first leg of his visit to America will include stops in three U.S. cities: Washington D.C, New York City and Philadelphia and nothing less than 2 million fans are expected to flock to his appearances over the six day visit.

The pontiff also has confirmed coming to Africa in November to visit countries in Africa with high rise in Islamic extremism and Christian- Muslim violence, which are Kenya, Uganda and Central African Republic.

According to ‘US News’ he will visit Kenya from November 25 to 27, Uganda from November 28 to 29 and finally to the Central African Republic (CAR), where the trip will wind up on November 30.

He was said to have been invited by the Heads of state of the 3 countries as well as the local bishops.

The reports was confirmed on Thursday September 10, 2015 by ‘The Vatican’

 

Read: Pope Francis calls on catholics to shelter refugees

In 2013, Islamic militants shook the world with their strings of attacks and bombings in Kenya,From the assault on the Westgate shopping mall that killed 67 and hundreds injured to the massacre at the Garissa University, that claimed 148 lives.

The Central African republic was not left out that year, the country descended into bloodshed after a 2 coup against their longtime leader Francois Bozize unleashed a wave of violence, pitting Christian anti-balaka militias against mostly Muslim Seleka rebels.

In Uganda, Francis will certainly refer to the Martyrs of Uganda, 45 Anglicans and Catholics killed during the persecution of Christians from 1885-87.

 

Pope Paul VI canonized the 22 African Catholics in 1964.

The trip will surely pose security risks that have largely been absent on Francis' foreign trips to date.