The possibility of Pope Leo XIV visiting Croatia in 2026 is drawing increasing attention, following a series of high-level meetings and a response from the Vatican reported by Net.hr.
Interest in a possible Croatian visit comes as the Pope began his first major foreign trip of 2026, a 10-day journey across four African countries. According to reports, the trip runs from April 13 to April 23 and includes stops in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
With Spain already expected to be on the Pope’s calendar in June, many in Croatia are now asking whether the country could also be among his destinations this year.
Invitations Have Already Been Extended
The idea of a papal visit has been circulating for months.
At the end of October last year, Croatian President Zoran Milanović visited the Holy See with his wife Sanja and invited the Pope to Croatia, presenting him with a missal recognised as the first printed Croatian book.
Just over a month later, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković also met the Pope with his family. He said the invitation to visit Croatia had already been sent earlier and was personally repeated during that meeting.
Net.hr Received a Reply from the Vatican
What gave the story new momentum was an inquiry sent by Net.hr to official Vatican channels, asking whether a visit to Croatia in 2026 could really take place.
The response, as reported by Net.hr, was encouraging: “I really think so… let’s hope it’s in 2026.”
While that does not amount to an official confirmation, it has certainly strengthened the sense that such a visit may be possible.
No Official Confirmation Yet
For now, however, no formal announcement has been made. Papal visits are typically prepared months in advance and depend on diplomatic, political and security considerations.
Church representatives in Croatia have also said they believe the visit could happen. Monsignor Mijo Gorski noted that Pope Leo had been invited even before his election and said he remains convinced that the Pope will come to Croatia sooner or later.
A Visit That Would Mean a Great Deal
For Croatia, a papal visit would carry both symbolic and spiritual significance. Although nothing has been officially confirmed, the possibility of Pope Leo XIV coming to Croatia in 2026 is now being discussed with growing optimism.
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