Pope Leo Urges Monaco’s Billionaires to Support the Needy

On March 28, 2026, Pope Leo made a one-day visit to Monaco. He arrived at the Monte Carlo heliport after a 90-minute flight from the Vatican.

The pontiff was greeted on the tarmac by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene. The encounter took place in front of Monaco’s royal residence and seaside skyline.

Arrival and official meetings

Pope Leo met first with Prince Albert, Monaco’s head of state. The prince is the son of the late Hollywood star Grace Kelly.

At the official residence, the pope spoke to Monaco’s leading residents and the royal family. He urged wealthy citizens to place their prosperity at the service of law and justice.

Gift and symbolic message

The pope presented Prince Albert with a colourful mosaic from the Vatican studio. The image depicted St. Francis of Assisi, known for renouncing wealth to help the poor.

The gift reinforced the visit’s theme. It stressed sharing goods and helping those in need.

Appeal to Monaco’s wealthy

Pope Leo made an explicit appeal to Monaco’s billionaires to support the needy. He reminded listeners that blessings carry a duty to be shared.

Monaco is a tax-free microstate on the French Riviera. It is famous as a haven for billionaires and luxury yachts, with the highest concentration of billionaires per capita.

Historic and religious context

The visit marked the first papal trip to Monaco in nearly five centuries. Monaco remains one of the few countries with Catholicism as the state religion.

The principality is the second smallest state in the world, after the Vatican. The visit underscored the links between the Catholic Church and small Catholic states.

Papal background and upcoming plans

Pope Leo is 70 years old and is relatively young for a pope. He was elected in May to succeed the late Pope Francis.

This was only his second trip abroad outside Italy. He is scheduled for a four-country tour of Africa in April and a week-long visit to Spain in June.

Filmogaz.com coverage notes the visit could presage a busy travel calendar for the new pontificate.