Pope Leo XIV Won't Visit U.S. in 2026, Vatican Confirms

The pontiff's first trip to the United States is now expected in 2027 at the earliest.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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After months of speculation, the Vatican has announced that Pope Leo XIV will not visit the United States in 2026 as previously rumored. The pope is expected to have a busy travel schedule this year, with planned trips to Africa and South America, but his first visit to the U.S. has been pushed back to 2027 at the earliest.

Why it matters

Pope Leo XIV's first visit to the United States as pontiff has been highly anticipated, as he was born in Chicago and spent time as a missionary in South America. The Vatican's announcement that the trip has been postponed until at least 2027 is significant, as it means the pope's American supporters will have to wait longer to see him in person.

The details

Rumors of a potential papal visit to the U.S. in 2026 began circulating last fall, with speculation that the trip could coincide with a United Nations general assembly in early September. However, the Vatican has now officially confirmed that no such visit is planned for this year. Instead, Pope Leo XIV is expected to make trips to Africa, including potential stops in Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Cameroon, and Algeria, as well as a visit to South America, with stops in Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru.

  • On Feb. 8, 2026, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV will not visit the United States this year.
  • The pope is expected to make a trip to Africa sometime this spring.
  • A potential papal visit to South America is planned for November 2026.
  • The pope's first visit to the U.S. is now expected in 2027 at the earliest.

The players

Pope Leo XIV

The current pope, who was born in Chicago and spent time as a missionary in South America before being called to Rome by Pope Francis in 2013.

Vatican

The administrative and spiritual center of the Catholic Church, which announced that Pope Leo XIV will not visit the United States in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“[T]he pope will not go to the United States in 2026”

— Vatican spokesman (cruxnow.com)

What’s next

The Vatican has not provided a specific timeline for when Pope Leo XIV's first visit to the United States might take place, but it is now expected to happen in 2027 at the earliest.

The takeaway

While Pope Leo XIV's supporters in the U.S. will have to wait longer to see him in person, the Vatican's announcement provides clarity on the pope's travel plans for 2026, which will focus on visits to Africa and South America instead.