Pope Leo XIV Announces Extensive 2026 Travels/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Vatican has confirmed an ambitious first-half 2026 travel schedule for Pope Leo XIV. The pope will visit Monaco, Spain and four African nations, alongside a sweeping tour of Italy. The trips mark a shift after a travel pause during the 2025 Holy Year.
Pope Leo XIV 2026 Travel Plan — Quick Look
- March 28: One-day visit to Monaco
- April 13–23: 10-day trip to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea
- May onward: Series of one-day visits across Italy
- June 6–12: Nearly weeklong visit to Spain
- Expected stop in Barcelona for Antoni Gaudí’s 100th death anniversary
- July 4: Visit to Lampedusa, Italy (key migrant arrival point)
Additional notes:
- No visit to the United States in 2026
- Possible trips later in the year to Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay
- Marks a major return to international travel after the 2025 Holy Year
Pope Leo XIV to Visit Africa and Europe in 2026: Deep Look
The Vatican has unveiled a packed international travel schedule for Pope Leo XIV in the first half of 2026, signaling one of the most ambitious itineraries for a pontiff in recent years.
The 70-year-old pope will visit Monaco and Spain, along with four African nations — Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea — as he expands his global outreach following a year focused largely on Vatican events.
Travel Resumes After Holy Year Pause
After his election last May as the first U.S.-born pope, Leo largely paused foreign travel while presiding over the 2025 Holy Year, which brought an estimated 33 million pilgrims to Rome. With the Jubilee concluded, the pontiff is now turning outward to meet Catholic communities abroad.
In recent weeks, Leo has begun making regular pastoral visits to Roman parishes during Lent, offering a preview of his renewed emphasis on direct engagement with the faithful.
Before becoming pope, Leo — born Robert Prevost — spent two decades as a missionary in Peru and traveled extensively as head of the Augustinian order. He has often described his love of travel and missionary work.
His only foreign trip as pope so far came late last year, when he visited Turkey and Lebanon to fulfill commitments made by Pope Francis, who was unable to complete the visits due to declining health.
Africa Tour Highlights
Leo’s most extensive trip of 2026 will take place from April 13 to April 23, when he embarks on a 10-day journey to:
- Algeria
- Cameroon
- Angola
- Equatorial Guinea
The Algeria stop carries particular symbolic weight. The country is closely linked to St. Augustine of Hippo, the 5th-century theologian whose teachings inspired the Augustinian religious order to which Leo belongs.
Such a lengthy and demanding itinerary echoes the long-haul travels of Pope Francis, including his 2024 visit to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.
Spain Visit and Gaudí Anniversary
From June 6 to June 12, Leo will spend nearly a week in Spain. He is widely expected to visit Barcelona on June 10 to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of architect Antoni Gaudí, designer of the famed Sagrada Familia basilica.
The basilica recently reached its maximum height with the completion of its central tower, adding further significance to the anniversary celebration.
Italy Tour and Lampedusa Visit
In addition to international travel, Leo will conduct an extensive tour of Italy beginning in May, making a series of one-day visits across the peninsula.
Notably, on July 4 — the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence — Leo will travel to the southern Italian island of Lampedusa. The island is one of Europe’s primary arrival points for migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa, underscoring the pope’s ongoing focus on migration and humanitarian concerns.
The Vatican has confirmed that Leo will not visit the United States in 2026, despite the milestone anniversary.
Possible South America Trip
While not yet formally announced, Vatican officials have indicated Leo is expected to visit Peru later in 2026, a country where he served for decades. Trips to Argentina and Uruguay are also under consideration.
With a demanding schedule that spans Europe and Africa — and possibly South America later in the year — Pope Leo XIV is signaling a renewed commitment to global pastoral outreach as his papacy enters its second year.
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