All countries to which Pope Francis traveled for more than 12 years of pontificate

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April 23, 2025April 23, 2025By Mario Vásquez
All countries to which Pope Francis traveled for more than 12 years of pontificate

Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the Pope Francis on March 13, 2013, so his pontificate lasted 12 years and 39 days, Until his death on April 21, 2025. Throughout his papacy, the international trips of the born in Buenos Aires were characterized by the “curious and strange” that were the destinations he chose.

The places to which Pope Francis made apostolic visits during his pontificate were often considered “countries of Catholic minority“, because, according to the words of the Argentine, the Supreme Pontifice” must demonstrate that it is A world leader, not only for Catholics“, so he moved away as much as possible in Rome.

During these pastoral trips, the Holy Father participated in events of the utmost importance for the Universal Church, such as the World Youth Days, World Family Meetings or International Eucharistic Congresses, among others, evidencing that the sovereign of the Vatican City He was known for his humility.

In his book, Let’s dream together: the way to a better future, Pope Francis indicated that he had the obligation to go to the most needy places of the media focus to be able to see the world as it is: “We must know the marginality Social, existential and spiritual to find a new future, a much clearer one, “added the Supreme Pontiff.

Pope Francis’s trips

According to the official data of the Holy See in the city of the Vatican, in its 12 years of pontificate, Pope Francis made 47 trips outside Italy And he visited a total of 66 countries. His longest trip was held from September 2 to 13, 2024, when he decided to travel to Indonesia, Singapore, East Timor and Papua New Guinea.

For his part, comparing the Argentine with his two predecessors, the Pope Benedict XVI He visited 24 countries in eight years, while the Pope San Juan Pablo II He was in 129 countries During the 25 years of his pontificate, being so far the Supreme Pontiff who visited more nations while he was the sovereign of the city of the Vatican.

Read more: the moment when the Vatican bells announced the death of Pope Francis

Pope Francis visited five continents (All, except for the Antarctica), although the balance between them is a bit uneven. The Supreme Pontiff made a single trip to Oceaniawhen he visited Papua New Guinea in 2024; In turn, he traveled 10 times to the continent Africanwhere he made the decision to visit 10 different countries.

In Africa, the Holy Father was in the Central African Republic, UgandaSouth Sudan, MozambiqueMauricio, MoroccoMadagascar, KenyaEgypt and the Democratic Republic of Congowith the reason to “promote peace in these ten countries that were bloody for a long time due to all Civil Wars “.

For its part, in AmericaFrancisco traveled to BoliviaBrazil, CanadaChili, ColombiaCuba, EcuadorUSA, MexicoPanama, Paraguay and Peru. It is worth mentioning that the Supreme Pontiff never visited the country in which he was born, Argentinabecause he had a “very complicated relationship” with the presidents Mauricio Macri and Cristina Fernández.

In Asiathe Argentine Pope visited BARÉINBangladés. South KoreaUnited Arab Emirates, PhilippinesIndonesia, IraqIsrael, JordanBurma, PalestineJapan, KazakhstanMongolia, SingaporeSir Lanka, Thailand And East Timor, being the first pontiff in history to visit 18 Asian countries, since John Paul II traveled to 17.

As expected, the most visited continent by Fransico was the Europeanin which he traveled to 26 countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Chipre, France, Slovakia, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Swiss and Türkiye.

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