The Vatican has announced that Pope León XVI will not be making a visit to Mexico this year, breaking recent speculation about a potential trip coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly scheduled for September. Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni confirmed that the Pope will not travel to the United States either in 2026, quelling rumors regarding his visit to his birthplace and Mexico. The lack of scheduled trips to these countries has raised questions among followers who were hopeful for a papal visit.

The Holy See mentioned that, while there are no plans for visits to the U.S. or Mexico, the Pope is considering a trip to South America at the end of 2026, with Peru identified as a potential destination. This suggests that while there might be future engagements in Latin America, the immediate plans for visits to Mexico don’t align with the pontiff's current agenda. Speculation about papal visits often stirs up excitement and expectations among the Catholic communities, particularly in regions with deep historical ties to the papacy.

The Pope's international engagements have been minimal, with his first and only journey abroad being to Turkey and Lebanon. As the Catholic Church navigates its global outreach, the absence of planned visits to Mexico or the U.S. may reflect broader logistical and situational factors, such as concerns surrounding travel schedules, diplomatic relations, or current world events that could affect the Pope's itinerary.