Pope Leo XIV has returned to the Vatican after completing his debut international journey, a six-day visit covering Turkey and Lebanon.
Before leaving Beirut Tuesday, the Pontiff already outlined his next major travel plans: a trip to Africa in 2026.
Algeria Tops the Wish List
The Pope named Algeria as his top priority, drawn by the historic ties to Saint Augustine. As the first Augustinian Pope in history, Leo sees a visit to the saint’s homeland as a powerful symbol for Christian-Muslim dialogue in the largely Muslim nation.
The Vatican confirmed Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea are also under consideration for the same journey.
Message of Unity in Lebanon
In his final days in Lebanon, Pope Leo praised the country’s tradition of coexistence. He held a landmark interfaith meeting with Christian patriarchs and Sunni, Shiite and Druze leaders to reinforce peace and cooperation.
Latin America on the Horizon
The first American-born Pope also shared his longing to visit Latin America. Argentina, Uruguay and especially Peru where he served as a missionary for over 20 years — are high on his personal list.
Pope Leo, who took office in May, continues to place interfaith outreach and regional bridge-building at the heart of his global agenda.
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