Pope Leo XIV will undertake a series of significant pastoral visits across Italy in the coming months, marking key spiritual anniversaries and revisiting places deeply connected to the life of the Church. The Prefecture of the Papal Household has announced that the Holy Father’s travels will span May through August and include Pompeii, Naples, Acerra, Pavia, Lampedusa, Assisi, and Rimini, according to Vatican News.
The first stop will hold special meaning. On May 8, the one-year anniversary of his election to the papacy, Pope Leo XIV will travel to Pompeii. When he first appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after his election, he reminded the faithful, “Today is the day of the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, be close, and help us with her intercession and love,” according to Vatican News. This year, he will return to that Marian devotion by spending the day at the Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii, where he will celebrate Mass and pray the traditional supplication written by St. Bartolo Longo, whom he canonized in October 2025.
From Pompeii, the Pope will travel to Naples, where he is scheduled to meet with clergy and religious at the Cathedral and gather with citizens in Plebiscito Square. The visit underscores his desire to strengthen local churches and maintain close pastoral contact with the faithful.
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Later in May, Pope Leo will visit Acerra, a town in southern Italy located in what has been called the “Land of Fires,” an area long affected by environmental pollution due to illegal waste disposal and burning. International scientific journals have referred to this region as the “Triangle of Death,” citing high mortality rates linked to environmental contamination, according to Vatican News. The visit will bring renewed attention to the Church’s concern for human dignity and care for creation.
On June 20, the Holy Father will travel to Pavia, a city associated with St. Augustine. Pope Leo has often described himself as a “son of St. Augustine,” according to Vatican News. The city houses the remains of the great Doctor of the Church at the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro, making the visit a personal and spiritual pilgrimage for the Pontiff.
In July, the Pope will cross the sea to the island of Lampedusa. The island has become a symbolic gateway for migrants seeking refuge in Europe. In recalling Pope Francis’ first papal journey in 2013, Vatican News noted that he threw a wreath into the sea in honor of those who lost their lives crossing the Mediterranean. Following in that example, Pope Leo XIV will visit the island on July 4 to offer “comfort and encouragement” to migrants and those who assist them, according to Vatican News.
August will bring a return to Assisi, where Pope Leo had previously promised the Franciscans he would come back for the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis. He is scheduled to meet with young people and celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, continuing his emphasis on youth engagement and Franciscan spirituality.
The final Italian visit of the summer will take place in Rimini for the 47th edition of the Meeting for Friendship among Peoples. There, the Holy Father will meet participants and celebrate the Eucharist with the local faithful.
Through these journeys, Pope Leo XIV continues to demonstrate his pastoral closeness to the people of Italy, honoring the saints, standing with communities facing hardship, and renewing the Church’s mission of prayer, solidarity, and hope.
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