In pictures: Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene share historic day with Pope Leo XIV in Monaco

On 28 March 2026, Pope Leo XIV made his first apostolic visit to Europe outside Italy, to the Rock. The Prince and Princess spent an unprecedented day alongside the Pope.

Together, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene welcomed Pope Leo XIV as he stepped out of the helicopter, under a radiant sun and to the sound of twenty-one gun salutes fired from Fort Antoine. From the very first moments, the Princely Couple set the tone for a day marked by a spirit of closeness and contemplation. In the main courtyard of the Palace, as the Papal March echoed between the ochre facades of the Rock, emotion was plain to see on everyone’s faces.

The Prince and Princess then guided the Holy Father into the Palatine Chapel, decorated in the 19th century and illustrating the religious history of the Grimaldi family. The Pope viewed the Ó Learghusa chalice, a 15th-century artefact preserved at Villanova University — where Leo XIV studied —, a symbol of an unexpected link between European heritage and the Pontiff’s personal journey.

On the balcony, a moment of sharing with the Monegasques

Following a bilateral meeting in the Family Salon on the topics of peace, the environment and international solidarity, Princess Charlène joined the two heads of state for an exchange of gifts in the Empire Salon. Crown Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella then posed alongside the Holy Father in the Hall of Mirrors, presenting the image of a united Princely Family gathered for this unprecedented event.

The appearance on the balcony, before more than 5,000 people gathered in the Place du Palais, was the emotional highlight of the morning. Prince Albert II recalled the centuries-old ties between Monaco and the Catholic Church, whilst Pope Leo XIV addressed the crowd in French. He then travelled to Monaco Cathedral in the Popemobile, where the Prince and Princess were waiting for him, before proceeding to the Church of Sainte-Dévote.

In front of nearly 15,000 worshippers, the Pope’s entrance onto the pitch of the Stade Louis-II for a grand mass was met with a standing ovation. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène once again accompanied Pope Leo XIV to the heliport together in the late afternoon, bringing to a close a memorable chapter in the country’s modern history.

Photos: Michaël Alesi / Frédéric Nebinger / Sarah Steck / Gaëtan Luci / Prince’s Palace