What’s on Pope Leo’s liturgical schedule from April to July?

Vatican, April 2, 2026: The Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations has released Pope Leo’s schedule of liturgical events from April to July, which includes two international journeys and two ordinations.

The Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations has published Pope Leo XIV’s calendar of events covering April through July 2026. All timings are according to Rome time.

Africa in April

Opening the schedule is the Pope’s second international journey of 2026—a ten-day visit across four African nations: Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, from April 13 to 23.

This will mark his first visit to the African continent since his election as pontiff last year. Nonetheless, Pope Leo has previously travelled to Kenya on at least six occasions and to Tanzania around five times. His most recent visit to Kenya was in February 2025—just two months before his election—when he presided over the dedication of a new chapel in Nairobi.

During his time as Prior General of the Augustinian Order, he also visited Augustinian chapters in Nigeria.

On April 26, the Pope will preside over Mass with Priestly Ordinations at St. Peter’s Basilica on the fourth Sunday of Easter at 9 am. Eight men from the Diocese of Rome are expected to be ordained on that Sunday, traditionally referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday.

The month of May

Pope Leo will preside over Holy Mass with episcopal ordinations at the Basilica of St. John Lateran on May 2 at 5 pm.

The following Friday, May 8, the Pope will mark his first anniversary as pontiff with a visit to the Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii at 10:30 am. During this visit to Pompeii and Naples, the Holy Father will celebrate Mass and recite the Supplication prayer at the Shrine.

Three weeks later, back in Rome, Pope Leo will preside over Mass on the Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday on May 24 at St. Peter’s Basilica at 10:00 am.

A trip to the Iberian Peninsula and a Mediterranean island

From June 6 to 12, the Pope will travel to Spain, visiting the capital Madrid and Barcelona—where he will inaugurate the newest and tallest tower of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia—before concluding the journey in the Canary Islands.

Shortly after his apostolic journey to Spain, the Holy Father will undertake another visit, this time within Italy. On June 20, Pope Leo will make a pastoral visit to Pavia, located south of Milan, where he will pray Vespers at 5 pm. The northern Italian city is associated with St. Augustine, whose relics are preserved in the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro.

Nine days later, on June 29, the Pope will preside over Mass with the blessing and imposition of the pallia on new Metropolitan Archbishops at St. Peter’s Basilica at 9:30 am, on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.

Finally, on July 4, Pope Leo will make a pastoral visit to Lampedusa and preside over Mass there at 10 am. The island serves as a gateway for thousands of migrants travelling from Africa and the Middle East to Italy and Europe.

Courtesy: Vatican News