The Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations releases Pope Leo’s schedule of liturgical events from April until July, including two international journeys and two ordinations.
By Kielce Gussie The Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations released Pope Leo XIV’s calendar of events for the months of April through to July 2026. Please note that all times are in Rome time. Africa in April Starting off the agenda is the Pope’s second international journey in 2026—a ten-day visit to four countries in Africa: Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea from April 13-23. This will be his first time traveling to the African continent since being elected pontiff last year. However, Pope Leo has visited Kenya at least six times and Tanzania around five times. Most recently he travelled to Kenya in February 2025—just two months before being elected Pope—to preside over a dedication of a new chapel in Nairobi. When he served as the Prior General of the Augustinian Order, he would visit Augustinian chapters in Nigeria as well. On April 26, the Pope will preside over Mass with Priestly Ordinations in St. Peter’s Basilica on the fourth Sunday of Easter at 9am. Eight men from the Diocese of Rome are scheduled to be ordained that Sunday, traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday. The month of May Pope Leo will preside over Holy Mass with episcopal ordinations at the Basilica of St. John Latern on May 2 at 5pm. The following Friday, May 8, the Pope will celebrate his first anniversary as pontiff with a visit to the Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii at 10:30am. During this visit to Pompeii and Naples, the Holy Father will celebrate Mass and recite the Supplication prayer at the Shrine. Three weeks later and back in Rome, Pope Leo will preside over Mass on the Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday on May 24 in St. Peter’s Basilica at 10:00am. A trip to the Iberian Peninsula and a Mediterranean island From June 6-12, the Pope will travel to Spain and visit the capital city of Madrid, Barcelona—to inaugurate the newest and tallest tower of the Basilica of Sagrada Familia—before concluding his journey in the Canary Islands. Soon after his apostolic journey to Spain, the Holy Father will travel once again, but this time, within Italy. On June 20, Pope Leo will make a pastoral visit to Pavia, a city just south of Milan. There, he will pray Vespers at 5pm. The northern Italian city has connections to St. Augustine as his relics are kept 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 the new Metropolitan Archbishops in St. Peter’s Basilica at 9:30am 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 10am. This island is a gateway for thousands of migrants from Africa and the Middle East to Italy and Europe.