Leo XIV draws his map of the world

A pope’s choices are carefully scrutinized, especially at the start of his pontificate. And among these, the list of apostolic visits is the subject of particular attention: which country does the pontiff choose to highlight and for what message? After a first trip in November 2025 to Lebanon and Turkey, the Vatican announced several trips at the end of February.

Pierre’s successor will first go to Monaco. This destination may surprise you. But in the city-state, we recall that Catholicism is “an essential foundation of the identity, unity and continuity of Monegasque institutions”. This is how last November, Prince Albert II opposed the legalization of abortion, “in view of the place occupied by the Catholic religion in our country”.

Two weeks later, Leo XIV will head to a country never visited by a pope, but mentioned in the first days after the conclave: Algeria. The former Augustinian monk will travel to the lands of the holy bishop of Hippo (354-430), whom he cites almost every day.

As the Algerian episcopate points out, this trip will also be an opportunity to come “to encourage (this) Church in its mission of fraternal presence in the midst of a predominantly Muslim people”. After three days in Algeria, Leo XIV will continue towards Cameroon, then Angola and Equatorial Guinea. These three countries, characterized by relative political stability and dynamic Catholicism, have in common that they have never welcomed Pope Francis.

American invitation refused

The following trip will mark the return of papal trips to the countries of old Catholic Europe, often neglected by Francis who preferred the “peripheries”. In June, Leo The Pope will also visit the Canary Islands, an archipelago facing a migration problem.

Finally, if a pope says a little about himself by choosing the countries he visits, he also reveals himself by refusing invitations. Although originally from the United States, Leo XIV declined Donald Trump’s invitation to be present on July 4 for the 250th anniversary of the country’s independence. Instead, the pope will travel to Lampedusa (Italy), this Mediterranean island known for migrants who end up there. To the wise…