Pope Francis is transforming the Catholic Church and is on his way to becoming one of most revered religious leaders in history. The 78-year-old pontiff has also racked up a substantial amount of frequent flyer miles since his papacy began, and seems inclined to continue the trend. His travel schedule is carefully and strategically planned. It often coincides with major worldwide events and gatherings and important anniversaries. It also includes places in which he wants to focus media attention as well as where there are opportunities to promote Catholicism.
Pope Francis Travel Schedule 2015
2015 has been a busy year so far for the pope, with lots more planned.
- Sri Lanka and the Philippines (January 13–19)
In January, the Holy See visited Sri Lanka and the Philippines. He has designated Asia a top priority because the continent has a small, but increasing, number of Catholics. According to the Pew Research Center, only 3 percent of the population of Asia is Catholic. In South America, 72 percent of the country practices Catholicism. The number is 46 percent in Canada, 33 percent in Europe and approximately 22 percent in the United States.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 6)
On June 6, 2015, Pope Francis traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The highlight of the trip was a mass at Koshevo Stadium, attended by approximately 67,000 people.
- Bolivia, Ecuador and Paraguay (July 5–13)
The pontiff recently returned from a July trip to South America. The itinerary included stops in Bolivia, Ecuador and Paraguay. He met with the presidents of all three countries. President Evo Morales of Bolivia presented him with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Condor of the Andes – the country’s highest award. The pope was also given the medal of Luis Espinal Camps, which was named for a Jesuit priest who was killed by paramilitary forces in 1980. The final mass of the trip took place in Ecuador before a crowd of roughly 1.5 million people.
- Cuba and the United States (September 19–28)
Pope Francis’s September trip to Cuba and America is expected to draw large crowds and be a huge media event. The Holy See was instrumental in negotiating the thaw in U.S. – Cuba relations, and will spend the first four days in the island country.
After that, the pontiff will fly to the U.S. His five-day visit is scheduled to include:
- A meeting with President Obama
- Congressional address (he will be the first pope in history to address Congress)
- An interfaith service at the 9/11 Memorial in NYC
- A visit to a Catholic elementary school in East Harlem
- Mass in Madison Square Garden
- Attending World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia
- A visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, Philadelphia’s largest jail
- Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Central Africa Republic and Uganda (November)
In November, Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the Central African Republic and Uganda. He also hopes to stop in Kenya, but there are currently some scheduling issues with stopping in the coastal east African country. Approximately 15 percent of Africans are Catholic.
Pope Francis Travel Schedule 2016
- Poland (July 25–31)
In July of 2016, the Holy See will travel to Poland to celebrate World Youth Day 2016. Krakow is one of the planned stops.
- Argentina, Chile and Uruguay (TBD)
Pope Francis is the first South American pontiff and native of Argentina. He discussed visiting several South American countries in 2016 during a June 2015 meeting with the president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet. A formal announcement of the trip has yet to be made.
Pope Francis is inspiring and attracting the attention of people of all ages, religions and walks of life. An effective way to communicate with believers, supporters and the curious alike is to travel to their countries, and the pope is dedicating much time and energy to this endeavor.