Pope Leo XIV received Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, Primate Archbishop of Mexico, and Auxiliary Bishop Francisco Javier Acero of the Archdiocese of Mexico, in a private audience on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. During the 40-minute meeting, the Pope expressed his interest and desire to visit Mexico.
The same day, the Archdiocese of Mexico released an official statement about the meeting. It reports that during the audience, Cardinal Aguiar Retes shared with the Pontiff the progress of the synodal process within the Archdiocese. Afterwards, the Pope thanked the priests, religious, and laity for their work in this process of listening and discernment.
In addition, Leo XIV expressed his joy at the pilgrimage that the Archdiocese of Mexico will make this Saturday, January 17, to the Basilica of Guadalupe, which will mark the beginning of the 2026 pilgrimage season.
The archdiocese is already in the midst of preparations for 2031, which will mark the 500th anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions to St. Juan Diego.
Entrusting his pontificate to Our Lady
The Archbishop took advantage of the audience to reiterate to the Pope the invitation he made a few days after the conclave to visit Mexico. The Holy Father thanked him and expressed his “desire and interest” in visiting the country “soon” to entrust his pontificate to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Already last November, responding to questions from the press in Castel Gandolfo, the Pope had mentioned his desire to visit the shrine of Guadalupe.
In December, President Claudia Sheinbaum sent him an official invitation, but she later specified that no date had yet been set.
Although there are no trips to Mexico or the United States on the pontiff’s official agenda, Vatican experts — such as Mexican reporter Valentina Alazraki — are talking about a possible trip by the Pope to his native country in September, which opens up the possibility of including a stopover in Mexico.
According to Alazraki, Pope Leo XIV would participate in the United Nations General Assembly to be held on September 8 in New York. The Holy See has not yet commented on this information.
Relations between the Pope, a native of Chicago, and the US political authorities are currently delicate, with various choices of the Trump administration giving rise to complexities, including the deportation campaign, Greenland, and the military operation against Venezuelan. This could make organizing such a trip difficult.
The possibility of a North American tour would also clash with the political calendar, with midterm elections scheduled for early November in the United States. Popes traditionally avoid visiting countries during election periods so as not to risk being used for political purposes.