Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 25, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleThe Vatican says Pope Leo will visit Monaco on Mar 28, then tour Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon Apr 13–23. A Spain trip follows Jun 6–12, marking his first major overseas journeys of 2026.
By Joshua McElwee
VATICAN CITY, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Pope Leo will visit four countries across Africa from April 13-23, the Vatican announced on Wednesday, with the pontiff making his first major overseas trip in 2026 to the continent where the Catholic Church is growing fastest.
The pope will also make a one-day visit on March 28 to Monaco, the microstate on the French Riviera, and will visit Spain from June 6-12, the Vatican said.
In Africa, Leo will visit Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. He is expected to draw large crowds, urge world leaders to support development on the continent, and highlight efforts at Catholic-Muslim dialogue.
Leo, elected in May to succeed the late Pope Francis as head of the 1.4-billion-member Church, has made only one overseas trip so far, visiting Turkey and Lebanon in November and December on a visit originally organised for Francis.
Vatican officials and African Church leaders say the upcoming papal tour in Africa is a sign of the priority the Church places on the continent.
"Pope Leo's visit will remind the world that Africa matters and the vibrancy of the Church in Africa remains at the heart of a thriving (global) Church," said Reverend Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, a Jesuit from Nigeria who led his order's communities across Africa from 2017-23.
About 20% of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics live on the continent, according to Vatican statistics.
Wednesday's Vatican announcement did not give full programs for the pope's upcoming trips, only naming the countries he will be visiting.
As part of the trip to Spain, Leo is expected to visit the Canary Islands, which has become a major point of entry for migrants trying to get to Europe.
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Alvise Armellini and Alison Williams)
The Vatican’s announcement of Pope Leo’s 2026 travel plans, including a one-day Monaco visit, a four-country Africa tour, and a week-long trip to Spain.
April 13–23, with stops in Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon.
It’s a one-day stop on March 28 and would be a rare papal visit to the microstate, highlighting the Pope’s European outreach.
June 6–12, continuing his 2026 overseas travel focused on Europe and Africa.
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