The Vatican has released Pope Leo XIV’s liturgical schedule from April through July 2026, offering a clear view of a pontificate marked by pastoral outreach, sacramental life, and global mission. These months reflect the rhythm of the Church’s life, with ordinations, major solemnities, and international journeys that highlight the Holy Father’s role as shepherd of the universal Church.

From April 13 to 23, Pope Leo will travel to four African nations: Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. This visit marks his first return to the African continent as Pope, though his connection to the region is longstanding through his years as Prior General of the Augustinians. The trip signals a continued emphasis on strengthening the Church in growing regions of the world and accompanying the faithful in their local contexts.

Shortly after returning to Rome, the Holy Father will preside over priestly ordinations on April 26, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, often called Good Shepherd Sunday. At St. Peter’s Basilica, eight men from the Diocese of Rome will be ordained to the priesthood. This moment reflects the Church’s ongoing commitment to fostering vocations and ensuring the sacramental life remains at the center of Catholic identity.

On May 2, Pope Leo will celebrate Mass with episcopal ordinations at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. Less than a week later, on May 8, he will mark the first anniversary of his election with a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii. There, he will celebrate Mass and offer the traditional Supplication, entrusting the Church to the care of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The month concludes with the Solemnity of Pentecost on May 24, when the Pope will celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, recalling the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church.

From June 6 to 12, Pope Leo will journey to Spain, visiting Madrid and Barcelona, where he will inaugurate a newly completed tower of the Sagrada Familia. The trip concludes in the Canary Islands, extending his pastoral presence to the peripheries. Later in the month, on June 20, he will visit Pavia in northern Italy, a city associated with St. Augustine, where he will pray Vespers in a place that houses the saint’s relics.

On the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29, Pope Leo will bless and impose the pallium on newly appointed metropolitan archbishops, a sign of their unity with the See of Peter and their responsibility to shepherd their local churches.

The schedule concludes on July 4 with a visit to Lampedusa, where the Pope will celebrate Mass on an island that has become a point of arrival for many migrants. This visit underscores the Church’s concern for human dignity and her call to accompany those in vulnerable situations.