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Pope Leo heads to swanky Monaco with pro-poor message

Pope Leo heads on Saturday to the Mediterranean principality of Monaco, a millionaires’ playground on the French Riviera that is the pontiff’s surprise pick for…

By Samantha Johnson / March 28, 2026

Pope Leo heads on Saturday to the Mediterranean principality of Monaco, a millionaires’ playground on the French Riviera that is the pontiff’s surprise pick for the first western European trip of his papacy.

The US-born pope, a former missionary critical of the wealthy elite, will helicopter in for a day in the world’s second-smallest state, best known for its casinos, luxury yachts and Michelin-starred dining.

In Monte Carlo, billboards featuring mild-mannered, white-cassocked Leo stand in stark contrast to the gleaming sports cars and throngs of tourists, many unaware of the papal visit.

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Isabel Fissore, the 62-year-old owner of a small jewellery shop, said she was excited about Leo’s whirlwind trip from the Vatican – itself the world’s smallest state.

“It’s historic, the two smallest states in the world coming together to spread the message of peace, light and love throughout the world,” she said.

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“We may be a small state, but we are big at heart.”

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