Pope Leo travels to Monaco. First European visit in 488 years
Pope Leo will travel to Monaco on Saturday as his first European trip since becoming pope. It will be the first papal visit to Monaco in 488 years. The pope will fly by helicopter from the Vatican for a one-day trip, surprising Vatican observers with this choice of exclusive, wealthy destination.
Decision to choose small, wealthy – but very Catholic – state for first European trip has baffled some Vatican observersPope Leo will travel to Monaco, the semi-enclave famous for casinos and superyachts, on Saturday on his first European trip since being elected pontiff, causing bemusement among some Vatican observers, not least because it comes 488 years after the last papal visit.Leo will travel from the Vatican by helicopter for the one-day trip, and will be greeted at Monaco’s heliport by Prince Albert and his wife, Princess Charlene, before being taken to the palace, which has been the residence of the Grimaldi dynasty since the 13th century. It is the first time a pontiff has visited Monaco since Pope Paul III in 1538. Continue reading...