Pope Francis has accepted invitations from the heads of state and bishops of Chile and Peru to visit the countries in January next year, the Vatican said on Monday.
Francis will visit Chile from 15-18 January, where his trip will take in the capital, Santiago and the cities of Temuco and Iquique, said Vatican spokesman Greg Burke.
The pontiff will visit Peru from 18 -21 January where his itinerary will include the capital, Lima, and the cities of Puerto Maldonado and Trujillo, the Vatican said.
Since his election to the papacy in 2013, Francis has visited Mexico and Cuba as well the South American countries of Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, but not his native Argentina.