Pope Francis, the first Latin American to seat on the throne of Saint Peter, could be visiting his home nation of Argentina next year.

Though it is not official, a Vatican representative said the possibility is highly likely. The pope will be traveling through the area around that time.

New reports say Pope Francis could visit Argentina in the spring of 2016. Though the Holy See has not made any formal announcements, the Vatican's Secretary of Protocol Guillermo Karcher said in a radio interview the pope could possibly visit the South American nation next year.

"He is aware that it is winter (in Argentina in July) and he won't tell believers to wait for a mass in the cold at night," the Vatican official explained, adding devout Argentines will have to "wait to the times of spring, in September or October of 2016, that continues to be the year of the (country's) bicentenary."

The pope is expected to travel through the region in July of 2016, but the Holy See has not provided much detail. However, other reports indicate that the pope will visit Paraguay around that time.

The Paraguayan government confirmed the pope will visit from July 10-12 as part of a trip through South America. He could also be visiting neighboring Bolivia and Ecuador.

The pope is expected to visit the shrine to Virgin of Caacupe, east of the capital Asuncion, and ruins of Jesuit missions in Itapua province.

A formal joint statement from the Holy See and Paraguayan bishops is expected later to announce the trip.

However, this could be one of the few visits the pope conducts to Latin America. Speaking with Mexican network Televisa, the pope said he foresees only being pope for a couple more years.

"I have the feeling that my Pontificate will be brief, four or five years; I do not know, even two or three," he said, as the two-year anniversary of his election passes.

"It's like a little vague feeling. I tell you ... it's like the psychology of a gambler who convinces himself he will lose so he won't be disappointed. And if he wins, he's happy. ... But I have a feeling that the Lord has placed me here for a short time and nothing more."