((OSV News): Bishops in Angola, Algeria, and Spain have announced that Pope Leo XIV will visit their countries this year.
Although the Vatican has not formally announced Pope Leo’s 2026 travel plans, these statements echo the pope’s words during a December 2 press conference aboard a papal flight to Rome.
“I hope to make a trip to Africa. That would possibly be the next journey,” the pope told journalists. “I hope to go to Algeria to visit the places of St. Augustine, but also in order to continue the conversation of dialogue, of building bridges between the Christian world and the Muslim world.”
Jean-Paul Cardinal Vesco of Algiers, told journalists outside the Paul VI audience hall on January 8 that he discussed the possibility of a trip with the pope during the extraordinary consistory and that the visit was “on track.”
He said northern Algeria will most likely be the pope’s “next trip,” expected in early 2026, though no date was given.
On January 13, Archbishop Kryspin Dubiel, apostolic nuncio to Angola, announced Pope Leo had accepted invitations from Church and government officials to visit Angola this year.
I hope to go to Algeria to visit the places of St. Augustine, but also in order to continue the conversation of dialogue, of building bridges between the Christian world and the Muslim world
Pope Leo XIV
“I wish to inform you that the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, intends to visit the African continent, and Angola is also included in the itinerary of this trip,” Archbishop Dubiel said.
He expressed hope that the visit would help rediscover and share Angolan values worldwide.
Archbishop Filomeno Vieira Dias of Luanda noted the visit will coincide with Luanda’s 450th anniversary celebrations.
“It is a celebration of a life path that has marked our history for more than five centuries,” the archbishop said.
In November, the pope also expressed hope to visit other destinations, including the Marian sites of Fatima and Guadalupe.
I wish to inform you that the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, intends to visit the African continent, and Angola is also included in the itinerary of this trip,
Archbishop Dubiel
While nothing is confirmed for Portugal, the Archdiocese of Mexico City issued a statement on January 14 after a meeting between the pope and Carlos Cardinal Aguiar Retes of Mexico City.
According to the statement, Cardinal Aguiar invited the pope to visit Mexico, an invitation first extended just after the conclave.
The pope expressed gratitude and his interest in visiting Mexico soon to entrust his pontificate to the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Mexico City is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, site of Mary’s apparitions to St. Juan Diego in 1531.
Unlike the announcements for Africa, it is unclear if the pope will visit Mexico this year. However, a trip to Spain in June was recently confirmed by José Cardinal Cobo of Madrid.
The trip is expected to include Madrid, Barcelona, the Canary Islands, and possibly the city of Guadalupe, home to a UNESCO-listed medieval monastery and pilgrimage site.
