Nearly a year into a pontificate largely anchored in Rome, Pope Leo XIV is preparing to launch a sweeping series of international trips that will carry him across Africa, to Spain and to the tiny principality of Monaco.
The pope will travel first to Monaco on March 28, the Vatican announced Feb. 25. After Easter, he will undertake a 10-day tour of Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea from April 13-23, and he will make four stops in Spain from June 6-12.
Though largely restricted by the 2025 Jubilee which filled the pope’s schedule with Rome-based obligations in his first year, Leo’s travel plans open what is anticipated to be a year of marathon travel for the pope. The announcement came days after the Vatican said the pope would embark on six separate pastoral visits across Italy this year, including to the migrant hotspot of Lampedusa visited by Pope Francis.
Leo’s only trip outside of Italy to date, to Turkey and Lebanon, was largely planned for his predecessor. Additional trips to Peru, Argentina and Uruguay are expected later in the year as well.
For now, the Vatican has only ruled out one destination for the American-born pope, stating that he will not travel to the United States in 2026.
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With thanks to the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) and Justin McLellan, where this article originally appeared.
