Pope to speak entirely in English in Sri Lanka-Philippines trip in break from Italian norm

Pope Francis caresses a baby after his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (The Associated Press)

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Pope Francis, right, meets with faithful at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (The Associated Press)

In this Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015 photo, commuters wait for their ride at a waiting shed which showcases next week's visit of Pope Francis in Manila, Philippines. Pope Francis is embarking on his first visit to this only predominantly Catholic nation in Asia Jan. 15-19. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis' upcoming trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines is shaping up as an all-English affair.

The Argentine pope plans to deliver all 11 speeches and homilies in English in major break from his Italian and occasional Spanish norm.

Francis tried out his English during his pilgrimage to South Korea last summer. The Vatican said at the time that the try-out was such a success — Francis even managed to crack jokes off-the-cuff in English — that he would use it more during his second Asian foray.

Francis arrives in Sri Lanka Jan. 13 for a two-day visit heavy on calls for reconciliation after the country's quarter-century civil war. He arrives in the Philippines Jan. 15 to visit the region hit hard by Typhoon Haiyan. He returns Jan. 19.