- The Vatican has unveiled an extensive international travel schedule for the first half of 2026 for Pope Leo XIV, marking one of the busiest papal itineraries in years.
- His confirmed visits include Monaco, Spain, and four African nations – Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea – in addition to a grand tour of Italy.
- This busy schedule follows a period where papal travel was largely paused since his election last May as the first US-born pontiff, due to the 2025 Holy Year.
- Significantly, Pope Leo XIV will not visit the United States for its 250th independence anniversary, opting instead to visit the Italian island of Lampedusa on 4 July.
- Key stops include Algeria, due to its connection with St. Augustine, and a week in Spain, where he is expected to commemorate Antoni Gaudí's death in Barcelona.
IN FULL