Pope Leo XIV Won’t Travel to U.S. in 2026 – Vatican Confirms

The Vatican clarified this Sunday that the Pope Leo XIV will not visit the United States during 2026, thus denying journalistic versions that indicated a possible tour of his native country within the framework of international events.

The Press Office of the Holy See, through its spokesman Matteo Bruni, came out to address these rumors and assured that there are no concrete plans for the pontiff to travel to US territory this year.

The clarification was given in response to versions circulating in the media and networks about a possible visit of the Pope to the United States in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, which brings together leaders from around the world.

However, the Holy See was categorical: “The Pope will not go to the United States in 2026,” Bruni stated, dismissing any official confirmation about that trip.

The speculation had generated expectations especially because Leo XIV is the first pontiff born in the United States, specifically in Chicago, although he also has Peruvian nationality, the result of his years of work as a missionary and bishop in that South American country.

So far, the only international trip he has made since his election in May 2025 was a joint visit to Turkey and Lebanon between November and December last year, aimed at commemorating the anniversary of a major church event and strengthening ecumenical ties in the region.

In his statement, the Vatican spokesperson also denied that there is a specific project for Leo XIV to include in his agenda a stop in cities such as New York or Washington DC, where it was expected that he could have been received with great interest by faithful and local authorities.

Vatican analysts maintain that the pontiff and the leaders of the Holy See make decisions about international trips based on multiple pastoral and diplomatic criteria, and not only linked to commemorations or institutional invitations.

Although for now there is no papal tour of the United States, Leo XIV’s agenda for 2026 does include other trips scheduled or in the process of being confirmed.

On the one hand, ecclesiastical authorities in Europe made it known that a visit to Spain is being organized that would include stops in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands, although the final details are still awaiting official ratification from the Vatican.

In addition, the pope announced in a press conference aboard a papal flight that his next destination could be the African continent, with a trip planned for after Easter. Among the possible countries to visit are Algeria, where the aim is to promote dialogue between Christians and Muslims, and other nations in the region.

Catholic organizations and bishops in Latin America, for their part, have publicly expressed hope that the pontiff could visit countries like Peru, where he worked for much of his life, and eventually others like Argentina and Uruguay later in the year.

Both the Peruvian Episcopal Conference and bishops from the region have indicated their confidence that said trip can take place towards the end of 2026, although there is no official confirmation yet.