Pope Leo XIV Announces Apostolic Journeys to Africa, Spain and Monaco in 2026
Pope Leo XIV will undertake three Apostolic Journeys in the first half of 2026, visiting Africa, Spain and the Principality of Monaco, according to an announcement from the Holy See Press Office. The schedule outlines a one day visit to Monaco at the end of March, a ten day journey across four African nations in April, and a six day pastoral trip to Spain in June.
The Holy Father will begin his international travel with a visit to Monaco on March 28, just before Holy Week. The trip responds to invitations from the Monegasque authorities and marks the first papal visit to the Principality in the modern era. Catholicism is the state religion of Monaco, and the visit is expected to highlight dialogue between Church and civil institutions, as well as shared commitments to peace and social responsibility.
From April 13 to 23, Pope Leo XIV will travel to Africa, visiting Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. In Algeria he will stop in Algiers and Annaba, following in the footsteps of Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, whose theological legacy continues to shape Catholic thought. Christians in Algeria represent a small minority, and the visit is seen as a gesture of fraternity and encouragement.
The journey will continue to Cameroon, where the Pope will visit Yaounde, Bamenda and Douala. Particular attention is expected to focus on the Anglophone regions in the north, where tensions and armed conflict have affected communities for nearly a decade. The Vatican has consistently called for reconciliation and dialogue in the region.
In Angola, Pope Leo XIV will visit Luanda, Muxima and Saurimo, engaging with local Church leaders and communities that play a significant role in social development and pastoral outreach. The final leg of the African journey will take him to Equatorial Guinea, the only Spanish speaking country in Africa, with visits planned to Malabo, Mongomo and Bata.
In June, from the 6th to the 12th, the Pope will travel to Spain. He will begin in Madrid before heading to Barcelona, where he is scheduled to inaugurate the newest and tallest tower of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia. The visit coincides with the centenary of the death of Antoni Gaudi, the architect who dedicated much of his life to the construction of the basilica and who has been declared Venerable Servant of God.
The Pope will conclude his Spanish visit in the Canary Islands, stopping in Tenerife and Gran Canaria. The archipelago remains a significant point along migration routes from Africa to Europe, an issue that has been central to the Church’s pastoral concern in recent years.
