Pope Leo will visit four countries across Africa from April 13-23, the Vatican announced on Wednesday, with the pontiff making his first major overseas trip in 2026.
The pope will also make a one-day visit on March 28 to Monaco, the microstate on the French Riviera, and will visit Spain from June 6-12, the Vatican said.
In Africa, Leo will visit Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. He is expected to draw large crowds, urge world leaders to support development on the continent, and highlight efforts at Catholic-Muslim dialogue.
Leo, elected in May to succeed the late Pope Francis as head of the 1.4-billion-member Church, has made only one overseas trip so far, visiting Türkiye and Lebanon in November and December on a visit originally organized for Francis.
Vatican officials and African Church leaders say the upcoming papal tour in Africa is a sign of the priority the Church places on the continent.
About 20% of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics live on the continent, according to Vatican statistics.
Wednesday's Vatican announcement did not give full programs for the pope's upcoming trips, only naming the countries he will be visiting.
As part of the trip to Spain, Leo is expected to visit the Canary Islands, which has become a major point of entry for migrants trying to get to Europe.
