Pope Leo will travel to Monaco on Saturday for his first European trip since being elected pontiff, marking the first papal visit to the principality in 488 years. The Pope will fly by helicopter from the Vatican and be greeted at Monaco’s heliport by Prince Albert and Princess Charlene before a private meeting at the palace.
Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesperson, described Monaco as a “small country with big horizons” and a “laboratory of peace” due to its responsible use of wealth. The visit has puzzled some Vatican observers, given Monaco’s reputation for casinos and superyachts, but Bruni noted the country’s strong Catholic identity, with Catholicism as the official state religion and five churches outnumbering its four casinos.
After the palace meeting, Pope Leo will travel in the popemobile to Monaco’s cathedral and later celebrate mass at the Stade Louis-II, expected to draw around 15,000 Catholics, many from across the Italian border. The Pope’s agenda includes themes of defending life, echoing Prince Albert’s recent refusal to legalise abortion.
The choice of Monaco has drawn mixed reactions. Vatican journalist Marco Politi called it “the Vatican’s best-kept secret” but suggested it could signal future visits to other microstates like Andorra and Liechtenstein. Severina Bartonitschek, a German Catholic news agency correspondent, noted that Pope Leo and Prince Albert share strong Catholic values and a love of sport, and that the one-day trip is feasible.
