Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff born in the United States, has expressed his intention to visit the country within the next few years, marking a potential milestone amid currently strained relations between the Vatican and the U.S. administration. In a recent interview with NBC, the pope, who was born in Chicago in 1955, indicated that although plans are not finalized, he hopes to make an official visit “soon” or within a “couple of years.”
Leo XIV, who assumed the papacy in May 2025, has encountered tensions with President Donald Trump’s administration, particularly over issues such as the U.S.-Israeli conflict involving Iran and immigration policy. The pope’s open criticism of the conflict and his encouragement to American bishops to support immigrants drew sharp responses from the White House. Unlike many world leaders, Trump has not yet visited the Vatican during Leo’s tenure, and according to Brian Burch, the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, no direct communication—by phone or text—has taken place between the president and the pope.
The potential papal visit would traditionally include a meeting with the U.S. president. While Leo did not confirm specific dates, he conveyed a strong affection for the United States, highlighting its foundational principles of freedom and opportunity. “What America stands for,” the pope said, “the sense of freedom, the sense of opportunity, the sense of having invited for generations people from around the world to be part of America.” Reflecting on his own heritage, Leo referenced his family’s immigrant background, including ancestors who were both slaves and slave owners, underscoring a complex American legacy.
Speaking to the Spanish-language network Noticias Telemundo, Leo addressed migrants directly, urging them to “have hope” and to seek ways to live in an “orderly manner.” The pope also emphasized his broader mission as the leader of a universal church, beyond his American identity.
A papal trip to the United States carries significant ceremonial and symbolic weight. Only one pope, John Paul II, has visited Chicago, Leo’s birthplace, during a 1979 Mass at Grant Park that attracted crowds estimated between 500,000 and 1.5 million. Cardinal Blaise Cupich, head of the Chicago Archdiocese, has committed to advocating for Chicago to be included on any U.S. itinerary, while local officials, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, have formally invited the pontiff to return to his hometown. Johnson extended his invitation during a papal audience in April and expressed optimism about hosting a papal Mass in the city.
In a lighter note of fanfare, the Chicago White Sox—Leo’s favorite baseball team—honored the pontiff by offering him the opportunity to throw out a first pitch and planning a special promotion featuring Sox-themed miters to commemorate his connection with the city.
The pope made his remarks following a prayer ceremony with tenor Andrea Bocelli at the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo outside Rome, where he took time to engage with several media outlets. As plans for his U.S. visit remain tentative, the international community watches closely for a development that would mark a significant step in the relationship between the Vatican and the United States.