Pope may make first trip to Africa next year

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict may travel to Africa next year for the first time as pontiff, a senior Vatican official said in comments published on Sunday.

Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone said the decision on which countries the German-born Pope might visit would depend partly on geopolitical and security concerns.

"The pope's travel agenda for 2009 has not yet been set. But it's true that this hypothesis is being worked on," Bertone told Avvenire, the newspaper of the Italian Bishops Conference.

"The Church in Africa deserves a trip by the Pope, who has already visited or is preparing to visit the other continents."

Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, travelled widely throughout Africa during his more than 26-year pontificate, including to Tunisia, Morocco, Tanzania, Senegal and Uganda.

Pope Benedict will start the longest visit of his pontificate on July 12 when he leaves for a 10-day trip to Australia. It will be Benedict's 9th trip outside Italy since his election in April 2005.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart)