Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV will visit the Republic of San Marino on August 22 before travelling to the northern Italian city of Rimini later the same day, the Prefecture of the Papal Household announced on Thursday.
The Vatican said the Pope will make the visit to San Marino in the morning and then continue to Rimini in the afternoon to take part in the 47th edition of the Meeting for Friendship among Peoples, an international cultural and religious gathering held every year in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy.
According to the Vatican statement, Pope Leo accepted the invitation extended by the former Captains Regent of San Marino, Matteo Rossi and Lorenzo Bugli. The Captains Regent serve as the heads of state of the small republic, one of the world’s oldest republics located within Italian territory.
The visit to San Marino will be one of several pastoral journeys Pope Leo XIV is expected to undertake across Italy in the coming months. Since the beginning of his pontificate, the Pope has repeatedly stressed the importance of meeting local communities directly and strengthening ties with people through pastoral visits and public encounters.
The Republic of San Marino has a long tradition of friendly relations with the Holy See and has welcomed Popes in the past. The upcoming visit is expected to include meetings with civil authorities, Church representatives, and local faithful, although the detailed programme has not yet been released by the Vatican.
Later on August 22, Pope Leo will travel to Rimini to participate in the annual Meeting for Friendship among Peoples, commonly known as the Rimini Meeting. The event gathers religious leaders, politicians, academics, artists, and young people from different countries to discuss issues related to faith, culture, society, and international cooperation.
The Rimini Meeting has often attracted messages and participation from Popes over the years and remains one of the major Catholic inspired cultural events in Europe.
The Vatican is expected to release more details about both visits in the coming weeks.