Pope Leo XIV visited Monaco on Saturday (28 March) to encourage its people to use their Catholic faith and wealth for good. The American-born religious leader held mass at AS Monaco's Stade Louis II stadium, the first papal visit to the principality since Pope Paul III in 1538. Monaco is one of the few European countries where Catholicism is the official state religion. The visit included a meeting with Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Princess Charlene at the palace, as well as a meeting with Monaco’s Catholic community at the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate.

Pope Leo XIV will travel on Saturday to the principality of Monaco, becoming the first pontiff in almost five centuries to visit the Mediterranean enclave, in a trip the Vatican…

Decision to choose small, wealthy – but very Catholic – state for first European trip has baffled some Vatican observers