- Now, with the Jubilee concluded, the 70-year-old pontiff has more flexibility to engage globally
- the Pope will make a one-day visit to Monaco on 28 March, followed by a 10-day African tour from 13-23 April
- While additional foreign visits have not yet been officially announced, the Pope is expected to journey to Peru
The Vatican has released Pope Leo XIV’s international travel schedule for the first half of 2026, outlining an ambitious itinerary that includes stops in Monaco, Spain, and four African countries: Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that his itinerary is among the most packed in recent years and complements a major tour of Italy beginning in May, which will feature six one-day visits across the country.
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Papal travels had been largely paused since Leo’s election last May, as the first U.S.-born pope, because his schedule was filled with ministering to over 33 million pilgrims during the 2025 Holy Year.
Now, with the Jubilee concluded, the 70-year-old pontiff has more flexibility to engage globally and has already been visiting Roman parishes on Sundays during Lent.
Before becoming pope, Robert Prevost spent twenty years as a missionary in Peru and frequently traveled during his 12-year tenure as Augustinian superior, often visiting communities worldwide—a passion for travel that he continues as Pope Leo XIV.
Leo made his first foreign trip as pope in late 2025, visiting Turkey and Lebanon, fulfilling commitments Pope Francis had been unable to complete due to his health.
Looking ahead, the Pope will make a one-day visit to Monaco on 28 March, followed by a 10-day African tour from 13-23 April, with stops in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
The Algeria leg holds special significance, as it is closely tied to the life of St. Augustine of Hippo, the 5th-century saint who inspired Leo’s religious order.
Such extensive foreign trips have been rare in recent years, with Pope Francis’ 2024 visit to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore being one of the few comparable journeys.
In June, Leo will travel to Spain from 6-12, likely visiting Barcelona on 10 June to mark the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death, the architect of the Sagrada Familia, which recently reached its full height with the installation of its central tower.
While additional foreign visits have not yet been officially announced, the Pope is expected to journey to Peru, and potentially Argentina and Uruguay, in the latter half of 2026.
However, he will not travel to the United States this year, missing the country’s 250th independence anniversary. On 4 July, Leo will instead visit the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, a key entry point for migrants from North Africa.
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