The Vatican Press Office has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV has no plans to visit the United States, his country of birth, throughout 2026, dispelling rumors circulating in the media, particularly Italian outlets. Speculations about a possible visit to his homeland this year were linked to a potential trip to the United Nations in New York to speak before the General Assembly in September, a move previously made by other popes. Another theory suggested the visit could coincide with the 250th anniversary of US independence on the upcoming July 4th, but this was also dismissed by the Vatican press. According to the Argentine News Agency, the pontiff has an invitation to visit the US, extended by Vice President Donald Trump's deputy, JD Vance, a leader of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church. Last year, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the Pope had received the invitation via a letter delivered by Vance, who met with Leo XIV along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Any potential visit by the head of the Catholic Church to the United States would need to overcome the tensions between Washington and the Vatican, given the significant differences in international policy between the pontiff and President Trump. The Vatican has criticized Trump's immigration policies, as well as the growing tensions between the US government and the Catholic Church. Leo, born in Chicago, has described the Trump administration's treatment of immigrants as 'inhumane' and has encouraged US bishops to speak out on the issue. Leo XIV has made only one foreign trip since his election on May 8, 2025, when he visited Turkey and Lebanon at the end of last year, and has so far only announced that his next tour will take place in Africa.
