By Salvatore Cernuzio
The journey of less than nine hours, marked by four meetings begins with the courtesy visit with Prince Albert II, followed by encounters with the Catholic community and with young people and catechumens, and concluding with Mass at Stade Louis II.
The Holy See Press Office published the official program for the visit on Mar 9, announcing that Pope Leo XIV will undertake a journey to the Principality of Monaco on Saturday, Mar 28, the eve of Holy Week. It will be the Pope’s first European visit and the first of his international journeys in the first half of 2026, followed by a long journey to Africa in April and one to Spain in June.
The motto of the visit is “Je suis le Chemin, la Vérité et la Vie” — “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The verse from the Gospel of John emphasizes that the Pope presents himself as the bearer of Christ and His message.
The Journey
Pope Leo will reach the small city-state by helicopter, becoming the first Pope to visit this country where Catholicism, as established by the Constitution, is the state religion and where dialogue between civil institutions and the Church continues to play a concrete role in public debate. The Pope will be visiting following repeated invitations from the Monaco authorities.
As explained by Archbishop Dominique-Marie David, the visit will offer an opportunity to reaffirm the centuries-old bond between the Grimaldi family and the Successors of Peter, and also to strengthen the many shared commitments: respect for human life “from its beginning to its end,” concern for integral ecology and the safeguarding of our “common home,” and a passion for sport.
Prince Albert II, received at the Vatican on Jan 17 together with Princess Charlène, has stated that the papal visit continues the “ancient and trusting diplomatic relations between the Principality of Monaco and the Holy See.” The late-March visit will mark an occasion that bears a “dual dimension, both institutional and pastoral,” representing “a strong sign of hope in a spirit of dialogue, peace, and shared responsibility.
The Schedule
The Pope will depart from the Vatican by helicopter at 7:00 a.m. and arrive at the Monaco Heliport at 9:00 a.m., where he will receive the official welcome. He will then proceed to the Prince’s Palace for a ceremony and a meeting with the Prince of Monaco and his family.
In the historic residence, the Pope will make a courtesy visit to the Prince and deliver a greeting, the first of the four public addresses of the journey.
The second will be a homily delivered to the Catholic community during a meeting scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Forty-five minutes later, the Pope will meet young people and catechumens in the square in front of the Church of Sainte-Dévote, a 19th-century Catholic church in the La Condamine district and seat of the parish of the Archdiocese of Monaco. On this occasion as well, Pope Leo will deliver a speech.
After lunch and a brief rest, the Pope will travel to Stade Louis II, the sports complex named after Prince Louis II (who reigned from 1922 to 1949), where AS Monaco plays its home matches in France’s Ligue 1 championship. There, Leo XIV will preside over Mass and deliver the homily.
After the celebration, the Pope will bid farewell to the Principality of Monaco following the official departure ceremony at the heliport. Departure is scheduled for 5.45 pm, with arrival back in Rome about two hours later.
Motto and Logo
Along with the program, the logo and the already-mentioned motto were also released today. According to the explanation, the logo features, in the upper left, a black-and-white image of the Pope smiling and giving a blessing, wearing liturgical vestments, a mitre, and a pastoral staff, to “express the spiritual and pastoral dimension of the visit.”
On the right is a stylized image of the tower of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, recalling the identity and sovereignty of the Principality. The tower is light yellow, so that the entire upper section together evokes the colors of the Vatican flag.
The lower part contains the inscription announcing the journey, with the name “Léon XIV” in large letters at the center, and the word “Monaco,” highlighted in the bright red of the national flag and the princely coat of arms. Overall, the logo “highlights the figure of the Pope and his apostolic mission, harmonized with the welcome of the Principality, whose state religion is Catholicism.” – Vatican News
