Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Holy See's Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life said the head of the Catholic Church is hoping to attend the Church's World Meeting of Families in Dublin next August.
"If the Pope is possibly able to be there, and circumstances around the world permit him to be able to go there, I'm sure he will do everything he possibly can, at least that's what he has expressed, to be there," the cardinal said.
If the visit goes ahead, it will be the first time a Catholic pontiff has visited Ireland since Pope John Paul II in 1979.
At that time, Pope John Paul II was unable to visit Northern Ireland over security fears.
Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said: "It will be very different from an earlier visit, the only time a pope came to Ireland. Ireland has changed. The Pope has changed and he will live up to challenging us."
As a sign of how much the country has changed, DUP leader Arlene Foster has pledged to meet Pope Francis if he visits Northern Ireland.