The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, was received in an official audience today, February 2, at the Vatican, by Pope Leo XIV, during which the Holy Father formally invited the President to visit Portugal.
Pope Leo XIV expressed appreciation for the invitation, subject to the Holy Father’s pastoral agenda.
During the audience, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa highlighted Portugal’s deep-rooted Catholic tradition and the enduring role of faith in Portuguese society.
“Portugal is a nation with a profound spiritual heritage and a long history of closeness to the Holy See,” the President said. “It would be a great honor for the Portuguese people, in Portugal and abroad, to once again welcome the Successor of Peter to our country.”
The President emphasized that a papal visit would carry strong pastoral significance and that previous papal visits have been moments of national unity and spiritual renewal, resonating far beyond Portugal’s borders. Other issues addressed included peace, international cooperation, migration, social justice, and human dignity.
President Rebelo de Sousa also reaffirmed Portugal’s commitment to multilateral dialogue and humanitarian values, underscoring the country’s historical role as a bridge between Europe, Africa, and the Americas—a role reinforced today by its extensive diaspora.
“Portugal remains firmly committed to dialogue, solidarity, and the promotion of peace,” the President stated. “These are values that unite Portugal and the Holy See and guide our engagement with the international community.”
Portugal has been visited by six reigning popes in the modern era. The first papal visit took place on May 13, 1967, when Pope Paul VI traveled to Fátima to mark the 50th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima. This historic journey made Paul VI the first sitting pope ever to visit Portugal. However,
John Paul II traveled to the country on three occasions, in 1982, 1991, and 2000. During his 1991 visit, he included a historic stop in the Azores, celebrating Mass in Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island, marking the first time a pope set foot in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. His visits are remembered for their strong spiritual and emotional impact, particularly the 1982 pilgrimage following the assassination attempt against him and the 2000 beatification of Francisco and Jacinta Marto.
Pope Benedict XVI visited Portugal from May 11 to 14, 2010, with visits to Lisbon, Porto, and Fátima. His trip focused on themes of faith, secularization, and Europe’s spiritual roots, reinforcing Portugal’s place within contemporary Catholic thought and dialogue.
Most recently, Pope Francis visited Portugal twice, in May 2017, when he canonized Francisco and Jacinta Marto during the centenary of the Fátima apparitions, and again in August 2023 to preside over World Youth Day in Lisbon, one of the largest international gatherings ever held in the country.
In total, six popes have made ten papal visits to Portugal. These historic visits underscore Portugal’s enduring ties to the Holy See and provide important context for any future papal journey, including a potential visit by Pope Leo XIV.
Outgoing President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, 77, concludes his second and final term in office in March 2026. A Catholic and former constitutional law professor and long-time political commentator, he leaves office with a legacy defined by accessibility, consensus-building, and strong institutional respect at home and abroad.
With about 80 % of the population identifying as Catholic, roughly 7 million people, Catholicism remains a central element of Portugal’s cultural and historical identity. Although Portugal is a secular and plural society, the Catholic Church continues to play an important role in community life, social solidarity, and national moments of reflection and celebration.
PAJ/Staff
