Some countries have never hosted a pope, with the number described in the article reaching 57 of the 195 UN-recognized states. The article highlights that Pope Leo XIV is set to become the first pontiff to visit Algeria on April 13, 2026, while also outlining how papal travel expanded globally after earlier centuries of rare visits. 1

Key developments

• Pope Leo XIV is preparing to visit Algeria, which the article says will be the first time a pope has stepped foot in the country. 1
• The article frames this as part of a broader pattern: 57 UN-recognized states have never hosted a pope. 1
• It notes that international papal travel became more common starting with Pope Paul VI, after earlier periods when travel was rarer or even forced. 1

Background: how papal travel expanded over time

• The article says that Pope Paul VI helped usher in modern “global pilgrimages,” including a 1964 trip to the Holy Land. 1
• It describes Pope John Paul II as a “globetrotter,” citing a record of 104 trips abroad. 1
• It states Pope Benedict XVI made 24 visits outside Italy, and Pope Francis made 47 trips over 12 years. 1
• The article adds that between 1964 and the end of 2025, popes visited a total of 137 countries. 1

Where “never visited” countries cluster

Island nations

• Among the 57 unvisited states, the article says there are 18 small island nations across the Caribbean, Pacific, and Indian Ocean. 1
• It notes that popes have visited some islands—citing Pope John Paul II (Seychelles and St. Lucia) and Pope Paul VI (Samoa)—even though other island states remain unvisited. 1

Muslim-majority countries

• The article says the unvisited list includes 20 Muslim-majority nations, highlighting Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Malaysia as notable examples. 1

Orthodox and Buddhist countries

• It states there are five Orthodox countries that have never received a pope, and that these are linked to the Patriarchates of Moscow or Serbia. 1
• It also says there are five Buddhist nations where no pope has traveled. 1

Communist and ex-communist states

• The article describes many unvisited countries as communist or ex-communist, especially where Catholicism is a minority. 1
• It specifically lists Belarus (described as traditionally Orthodox, with Catholics around 10%), and also includes Russia, China, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. 1

Geographic breakdown of unvisited countries

• The article breaks the 57 countries down by region, stating Asia has 21 (more than a third of the total). 1
• It says Africa has 13, including Ethiopia and Eritrea (described as Christian countries and former Italian colonies), along with multiple Sahel region states. 1
• It reports Oceania has eight unvisited island nations. 1
• It says the Americas has eight, including Suriname, Guyana, and six Caribbean islands. 1
• Finally, it states Europe has seven unvisited nations, including Moldova, Montenegro, and Serbia. 1

Future papal destinations mentioned by the article

• The article calls Vietnam one of the most likely future candidates, citing improved diplomatic relations with the Holy See and a vibrant Vietnamese Catholic community. 1
• It notes that after Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Monaco (March 28, 2026), Vatican sources have also mentioned an “unprecedented trip to Andorra.” 1
• It says visits to Montenegro and Oman are possible given current diplomatic relations, but adds that war in Iran and regional instability could make Oman unlikely in the short term. 1

Note on potential changes ahead

• The article suggests the “never visited” list could grow in 2027 due to the expected independence referendum in Bougainville (currently part of Papua New Guinea). 1
• It adds that while popes have visited Papua New Guinea, no pope has set foot on Bougainville (described as named after Louis Antoine de Bougainville). 1*