His first foreign trip of 2026 surprised many, combining private talks with a public mass and a call for moral leadership amid global tensions.

Monaco and the Vatican, the two smallest sovereign states by size, once again drew the attention of the world community when Pope Leo XIV visited the principality as his first foreign trip in 2026. Such a move underscored the special bond between these miniature nations and their devout religious tradition.

The Pope arrived in Monaco by helicopter from the Vatican and was warmly welcomed by Prince Albert and Princess Charlene. The visit began with a private meeting at the prince’s palace, and crowds of people with Vatican and Monaco flags, as well as children in sun hats, gathered around to offer greetings.

The pope’s appearance in the principality raised questions about why this wealthy place became his first foreign trip in 2026 and his first journey outside Italy.

At the same time, the ties between the papacy and Monaco run deep: Catholicism is the state religion of the principality, and the Vatican sees diplomatic potential in close cooperation with one of the smallest states in the world.

There is also a personal dimension: the first pope born in the United States has American connections to Prince Albert through the prince’s mother, Hollywood actress Grace Kelly, who married Prince Rainier III in 1956.

“The gift of humility and living spiritual heritage invite you to devote your prosperity to the service of law and justice,” said Leo before the audience gathered near the prince’s palace, noting that this is needed now when “the display of power and the logic of oppression harm the world and undermine peace.”

– Pope Leo XIV

Statements and Positions from Vatican–Monaco Visits

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Holy See, emphasized that small states can still play an important moral role on the international stage as a “bulwark against authoritarian tendencies,” while drawing attention to common priorities between the Vatican and Monaco.

Parolin also emphasized that in an era when “international law seems weakened” along with the “dangerous return of theories justifying preventive wars,” smaller states can be “natural guardians of multilateralism.”

Among the priorities are environmental protection, as Monaco is actively pursuing a green transformation, and the stance on abortion: Prince Albert recently vetoed a bill on abortion in the principality.

The ties between Monaco and the church are also reflected in the fact that Princess Charlene belongs to a small group of Catholic royal ladies who have the rare privilege of wearing white attire when appearing before the Pope, instead of the traditional black.

The one-day itinerary of Leo XIV in Monaco included a meeting with the Catholic community and a public Mass at the national stadium. However, the Pope himself did not plan to visit the famous Monte Carlo Casino district; according to his brother John, Leo had given up gambling after serving as a missionary in Peru.

“We used to go there by boat and gamble with pleasure,” John told the National Catholic Reporter. “After that experience, as he would say: ‘No, it’s a waste. There are better things you can do with your money.’

– John, National Catholic Reporter

Pope Leo XIV ended his one-day visit with a focus on peace and dialogue, underscoring the Vatican’s role as a moral mediator among microstates. Monaco, known not only for its luxury but also for its spiritual heritage, served as an example of how religious and diplomatic values can live side by side in the modern world. The visit strengthened the closeness between the Vatican and Monaco and reminded that even the smallest states can have a significant impact on global humanitarian and moral processes.