Pope Leon XIV has officially announced that he will not be traveling to the United States in 2026. His decision was confirmed by Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesperson, who firmly stated, "The Pope will not go to the United States in 2026." This announcement dispels previous rumors suggesting that the Pope might visit his home country during the same year to attend the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Elected in May 2025 after the passing of Pope Francis, Leon XIV has made history as the first American pope. His dual nationality includes American and Peruvian, the latter being attributed to his extensive years of work as a missionary and bishop in Peru. Although there was significant speculation regarding a visit to the US, the Pope's only confirmed international trip so far has been to Turkey and Lebanon from November 27 to December 2, 2025, a journey originally planned by his predecessor to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

While the Pope has ruled out a visit to the US, he has not dismissed the possibility of traveling to Latin America, suggesting that he may still engage with his spiritual base in the region, where he previously served. This decision reflects the ongoing dialogue and connection that the Vatican maintains with Latin American countries, and highlights the importance of the region in the global Catholic Church hierarchy and future papal engagements.