Updated on March 30, 2026
Sommaire:
- Léon XIV in Monaco: a historic visit
- From the Palace balcony, a dialogue between Catholic faith and social responsibility
- A full day, from the Prince’s Palace to Sainte-Dévote
- At Stade Louis-II, a papal mass marked by both solemnity and fervour
In brief:
Monaco experienced an exceptional day with the visit of Pope Leo XIV, marked by both official and spiritual highlights. Blending tradition, messages of hope, and a strong public gathering, this historic moment reaffirmed the deep bond between the Principality and the Church.
Monaco welcomed Pope Leo XIV on Saturday, March 28, for an apostolic visit.
According to the Prince’s Palace, this visit represents “a historic moment for Monaco” and “a powerful sign of hope,” which “is part of the continuity of the centuries-old ties that unite the Grimaldi dynasty with the Successors of Peter.”
In a State where Catholicism is enshrined in the Constitution, this visit revives a heritage that the Palace describes as “an essential foundation of its identity, its unity, and the continuity of its institutions.”
Léon XIV in Monaco: a historic visit
On this sunny Saturday, March 28, 2026, Monaco experienced a day destined to become part of its history. The world’s two smallest states reaffirmed their enduring bond.
Nearly five centuries after the visit of Paul III in 1538, Leo XIV became the first pope of the modern era to undertake an apostolic visit to Monaco. Arriving in the morning and departing at 5:30 p.m. by helicopter, the Sovereign Pontiff moved through a series of official and pastoral engagements: a welcome at the Prince’s Palace, addresses from the balcony, a meeting with the Catholic community at the Cathedral, an encounter with young people and catechumens at Sainte-Dévote, and finally a papal Mass at Stade Louis-II attended by 15,000 faithful, with the popemobile used for his movements and greetings to the crowd.
From the Palace balcony, a dialogue between Catholic faith and social responsibility
Following a private meeting between the two Sovereigns, in the presence of Princess Charlene, dressed entirely in white, the first highlight of the day unfolded on the balcony of the Prince’s Palace, before a crowd of Monegasques and residents gathered in Palace Square. In his address, Prince Albert II emphasized that “the destiny of the Principality is rooted in the Catholic faith,” while recalling that this heritage is not fixed but meant to evolve with the times. He also underlined shared commitments with the Church—peace, solidarity, life, and the environment—concluding with the words: “To protect creation is to protect humanity,” a statement echoing his decision in autumn 2025 not to proceed with the bill legalizing abortion that had been passed six months earlier by the National Council.
Leo XIV then addressed the crowd from the same princely balcony. Pleased to be the first modern successor of Saint Peter to visit Monaco, he praised the “deep bond” linking the Principality to Rome, highlighting that in a wounded world, small states can carry a voice greater than themselves: “It is the small who make history.”
A full day, from the Prince’s Palace to Sainte-Dévote
The Pope then travelled by popemobile to Monaco Cathedral to meet the Catholic community and take part in the Liturgy of the Hours.
At the Cathedral, before around a thousand people, Leo XIV called for the proclamation of “the Gospel of life, hope and love,” and urged resistance to “the pressures of secularism.”
Later, at Sainte-Dévote Church, he spoke to young people about the “strength” of a life grounded in love rather than in “material and fleeting things,” referring to “thousands of likes” as a false promise of inner fulfillment. This moment gave the day a more popular and pastoral tone.
At Stade Louis-II, a papal Mass marked by solemnity and fervour
After a lunch at the Archbishop’s residence alongside Monseigneur Dominique-Marie David, Archbishop of Monaco, the highlight of the day was the Mass celebrated at Stade Louis-II before 15,000 faithful of all nationalities. The Princely Family was in attendance (with women dressed in black, as protocol dictates), alongside civil and religious authorities, in an atmosphere that was both reverent and spectacular.
The setting blended popular fervour, liturgical solemnity, and a strong awareness of the historic significance of the event. The Mass featured the Choir of Monaco and the Monte-Carlo Opera, the full Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Prince’s Carabinieri Orchestra.
The homily returned to the themes already expressed earlier before invited Monegasque residents at Palace Square. Leo XIV denounced the “calculations” that lead to “killing the innocent.” “Let us not grow accustomed to the clamor of weapons or the images of war! Peace is not simply a balance of power; it is the work of purified hearts.”
The Sovereign Pontiff’s words in defense of life were also widely noted: “It is mercy that saves the world: it cares for every human life, from its beginning in the mother’s womb to the moment it fades, and in all its fragility.”
After the Mass, and before departing for the heliport, Pope Leo greeted the sick and offered them his blessing.
The Pope’s visit to Monaco followed an invitation from Prince Albert II, extended during a meeting at the Vatican in January. It is worth noting that Monaco, along with Malta and Costa Rica, is one of the rare countries in the world where Catholicism is the state religion. By accepting the invitation of the Monegasque Sovereign, Leo XIV undeniably brought a renewed sense of fraternity. It is now up to the Principality to carry this momentum beyond its 2.02 km², as “the gift of smallness, combined with a living spiritual heritage, commits [Monaco’s] richness to the service of law and justice, especially at a time when displays of power and the logic of domination wound the world and compromise peace.”
- Monaco welcomed Pope Leo XIV on March 28 for a historic apostolic visit
- The Pope moved through a full day of engagements between the Prince’s Palace, the Cathedral, Sainte-Dévote and Stade Louis-II
- Prince Albert II and the Pope highlighted the strong ties between Monaco, the Catholic faith and contemporary challenges
- More than 15,000 faithful attended a papal Mass marked by messages of peace, life and hope
- The visit is part of a long-standing relationship with the Vatican and leaves a lasting imprint on the Principality
The visit of Pope Leo XIV to Monaco stands as a historic moment, at the crossroads of spiritual, political and societal dimensions. It reaffirms the Principality’s unique role as an engaged actor, rooted in its heritage while looking toward contemporary challenges.
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