Monaco is preparing for one of the most significant moments in its modern history. Pope Leo XIV will make an Apostolic Visit to the Principality on Saturday 28th March — the first visit by a sitting pope to Monaco in the modern era.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene will welcome the Holy Father to the Principality in what the Princely Palace, in a communiquĂ© issued Wednesday, described as an occasion that will “mark a historic moment for Monaco and stand as a strong sign of hope, in a spirit of dialogue, peace, and shared responsibility.”
The last time a pope passed through Monaco was in 1802 — and even then, it was not a visit in any meaningful sense. The cortege carrying the body of Pope Pius VI passed through the Principality on its way back to Rome. More than two centuries later, a reigning pontiff will set foot in Monaco for the first time.
How the visit came about
The Apostolic Visit follows an invitation extended by Prince Albert II to Pope Leo XIV during a private meeting at the Vatican on 17th January. The Archbishop of Monaco, Dominique-Marie David, extended a parallel invitation — reflecting, the Palace noted, “both the institutional and pastoral dimensions of this event”.
This is not simply a diplomatic exchange between two sovereign states, though Monaco and the Holy See share historic and longstanding relations. It is also a pastoral visit to a Catholic nation — and the Palace was explicit about what that means. “As a sovereign State in which the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman religion is enshrined in the Constitution, the Principality of Monaco draws from this spiritual heritage a fundamental element of its identity, unity, and institutional continuity, while embracing a dynamic of openness and adaptation to the contemporary world,” the communiquĂ© read.
The visit, the Palace added, “reflects the enduring bonds linking the Grimaldi dynasty to the Roman Pontiffs, as well as the historic and trusted diplomatic relations between Monaco and the Holy See.”
What it means for Monaco
For a Principality of Monaco’s size, a papal visit is an event of extraordinary weight. The Grimaldi dynasty’s bonds with the Roman pontiffs stretch back centuries, and the Catholic faith has been woven into the fabric of Monegasque public life since the founding of the state. That no sitting pope has made a formal visit in the modern era makes the announcement all the more remarkable.
The visit also carries meaning well beyond Monaco’s borders. Pope Leo XIV arrives in a spirit the Palace has explicitly framed around dialogue and peace — values that resonate at a moment when the world is in particular need of both.
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Main photo of Prince Albert and Pope Leo at the Vatican in January 2026, credit: Vatican Media