Pope Leo XIV will visit Monaco, Africa, Spain

26-02-2026

The Holy See Press Office has officially announced a series of apostolic journeys that will define the pace of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate during the first half of 2026. Following the conclusion of the Jubilee Year events, the Holy Father will resume his international agenda with renewed intensity, projecting a Church that seeks to be present in both European decision-making centers and the geographical and existential peripheries most in need of global attention. This diplomatic and pastoral deployment will begin with a historic visit to the Principality of Monaco, continue with an extensive tour of four African nations, and culminate in a highly anticipated trip to Spain, where the Pontiff will address key issues such as the migration crisis and the cultural heritage of faith.

The first stop of this journey will take place on March 28, when Leo XIV makes a lightning visit to the Principality of Monaco. This trip is of an exceptional nature, as he will become the first Pontiff of the modern era to officially set foot in the small sovereign state. With this gesture, the Pope responds to persistent invitations from Monegasque authorities and seeks to strengthen spiritual ties with a community that, although small in size, maintains a deeply rooted Catholic identity. During his stay in the Principality, the Holy Father is expected to call for the responsibility of prosperous nations in building a more equitable and solidary world order.

Subsequently, between April 13 and 23, Pope Leo XIV will embark on his most ambitious journey to date: a ten-day tour of the African continent that will take him to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. In Algeria, the Pontiff will follow in the footsteps of Saint Augustine, visiting cities such as Algiers and Annaba in a gesture that underscores the importance of interreligious dialogue and the historical roots of Christianity in North Africa. In Cameroon, the papal message is expected to focus on reconciliation and peace, especially in regions affected by internal conflicts. The stage in Angola will serve to bless social and community projects, while the visit to Equatorial Guinea—the continent's only Spanish-speaking country—will reinforce cultural and pastoral links with a vibrant and steadily growing local Church.

The climax of this international agenda will be the apostolic journey to Spain, scheduled from June 6 to 12. This visit will be structured around three fundamental axes: the capital city of Madrid, the architectural culmination in Barcelona, and the humanitarian drama in the Canary Islands. In Madrid, the Pope will hold institutional meetings with the highest state authorities and the ecclesiastical hierarchy, focusing on the renewal of faith in contemporary societies. However, one of the most symbolic moments will occur in Barcelona, where the Pontiff will inaugurate and bless the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Basilica of the Sagrada Família. This tower, reaching a height of 172.5 meters, completes the profile of the temple designed by Antoni Gaudí, whose figure was declared venerable in 2025. The visit coincides with the centenary of the Catalan architect's death, thus linking the beauty of art with the message of the Gospel.

The trip will conclude in the Canary Islands, a destination the Pope personally included in his itinerary due to his concern over the Atlantic migration route. By visiting the archipelago, Leo XIV fulfills a wish previously expressed by his predecessor, Pope Francis, to be close to those who risk their lives at sea and the communities that welcome them. In Tenerife and Gran Canaria, the Holy Father will meet with migrants, volunteers, and local authorities to highlight the need for migration management based on human dignity and universal fraternity. With this tour finale, the Pope reaffirms his commitment to the "peripheries" and positions the Church as an active voice in the face of the most urgent social challenges of the 21st century.

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