papal trips

The Latest

Queen Mathilde of Belgium meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace with her husband, King Philippe of the Belgians, on Sept. 14, 2023.

From castles to cathedrals: Pope Francis’ schedule for Luxembourg and Belgium trip

Jul 21, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope will greet royal leaders, prime ministers, professors and students, and Catholics in some of the countries’ historic palaces,... Read more

Pope Francis travels between the conference center and Unità d’Italia Square in Trieste, Italy, with a golf cart during his pastoral visit to the northern Italian city on July 7, 2024. In Trieste, the pope addressed around 1,200 participants in a Catholic conference on democracy for the annual Social Week of Catholics.

Gun found in abandoned suitcase before papal visit to Trieste, Italy

Jul 12, 2024

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

According to Italian press, less than 24 hours after the pope’s arrival, the police discovered a Czech-made semiautomatic pistol inside... Read more

The Tuan Ma statue is paraded around Larantuka City during the Semana Santa Holy Week celebrations on Indonesia’s Flores island.

Indonesian island set to become an international Catholic pilgrim destination

Jun 30, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The government of Indonesia plans to boost religious tourism on Flores Island, famous for its history and Catholic heritage. Read more

Pope Francis speaks to pilgrims gathered in the arena in Verona, Italy, on May 18, 2024.

Pope Francis’ pastoral visit to Verona emphasizes call to be peacemakers  

May 18, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The pope’s one-day visit to the northern Italian city of Verona on Saturday centered on a message of peace. Read more

St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy.

Historic St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy, will host Pope Francis this weekend

Apr 25, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in St. Mark’s Square this Sunday in Venice and then privately venerate the relics of... Read more

Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni Church, an Indian-Mughal style Catholic church in Medan, Indonesia.

Pope Francis’ Indonesia visit to ‘strengthen message of tolerance, unity, and world peace’

Apr 15, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The Indonesian government has confirmed the country will be the first destination in the 87-year-old pontiff’s apostolic journey to the... Read more

Pope Francis waves at the crowd of 1.5 million people who attended the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal on Aug. 6, 2023.

What countries did Pope Francis visit in 2023 and what did he say?

Dec 30, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Despite advanced age and health challenges, the pope visited six countries on three continents in 2023. Read more

Pope Francis presides over his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Oct. 18, 2023.

Update: Pope Francis to attend COP28 climate change conference in Dubai in December

Nov 2, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis said in a TV interview he will travel to the United Arab Emirates for the second time from... Read more

Pope Francis at the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 6, 2023.

A papal visit to the South Pole? Pope Francis looks to new peripheries

Oct 17, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In a new interview, the pope said someone had recommended he make a visit to Antarctica the next time he’s... Read more

Pope Francis speaks during a meeting with local religious leaders at a memorial dedicated to sailors and migrants lost at sea on the first of a two-day visit to Marseille, France, Sept. 22, 2023.

Pope Francis in Marseille: It’s ‘a duty of humanity’ to save migrants abandoned at sea

Sep 22, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“We can no longer watch the drama of shipwrecks, caused by the cruel trafficking and the fanaticism of indifference,” the... Read more

Catholics from Vietnam at Mass with Pope Francis in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Sept. 3, 2023.

Catholics in Vietnam ask Pope Francis to visit their country next

Sep 7, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Vietnam is home to millions of Catholics, yet no pope has ever visited the southeast Asian country. Read more

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5 things to know about Mongolia as Pope Francis prepares for his trip

Aug 28, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The pope will travel to Mongolia Aug. 31–Sept. 4 to visit one of the smallest Christian communities in the world. Read more

Mongolia is a democratic country sandwiched between the authoritarian powers of Russia and China.

What Pope Francis’ trip to Mongolia could mean for Vatican relations with Russia and China

Aug 27, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope’s upcoming trip could have geopolitical implications beyond the country’s small population of Catholics. Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on March 22, 2023.

Pope Francis to travel to Mongolia on Aug. 31

Jun 3, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The trip will make Pope Francis the first pope to visit the Asian country that shares a 2,880-mile border with... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims at the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on March 22, 2023.

Pope Francis says he will travel to Mongolia

Apr 15, 2023

By Courtney Mares

A trip to Mongolia would make Pope Francis the first pope to visit the Asian country that shares a 2,880-mile... Read more

Pope Francis at the International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest, Hungary Sept. 12, 2021.

‘Christ is our future’: Vatican announces theme, schedule for Pope Francis’ Budapest trip

Mar 21, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis will travel to Budapest, Hungary, in just over a month for an April 28–30 visit to the capital... Read more

Pope Francis in Budapest, Hungary, on Sept. 12, 2021.

Pope Francis to visit Hungary in April

Feb 27, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis returns to the central European country after a short visit in 2021 for the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress. Read more

Young people from eastern Congo lay down the machetes and knives used to kill their families at the foot of Christ’s cross to symbolize their forgiveness in a moving encounter with Pope Francis during his trip to the country Feb. 1, 2023.

Pope Francis ‘left without words’ after children’s shocking stories of violence in eastern Congo

Feb 1, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The moving encounter with the pope provided a potent reminder of the horrors taking place in eastern Congo. Read more

Pope Francis celebrated Mass with around 1 million people in Kinshasa, DRC, on Feb. 1, 2023.

1 million attend joyful Mass with Pope Francis in Democratic Republic of Congo

Feb 1, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Catholics danced and sang songs, including a chant of “Maman Maria,” which means “Mama Mary” in French, as they awaited... Read more

Pope Francis meets with refugees from Congo and South Sudan before his flight to Africa on Jan. 31, 2023.

Pope Francis meets with refugees from Congo and South Sudan before flight to Africa

Jan 31, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Among the refugees who met with the pope was Bidong, who spent much of his childhood in a refugee camp... Read more