Which countries have never received a papal visit?

For centuries, international papal travel was rare — and sometimes forced, as seen with the captivities of Pope Pius VI and Pope Pius VII under Napoleon. However, the Bishops of Rome began an era of global "pilgrimages" under Pope Paul VI. A pioneer of papal journeys, he traveled to the Holy Land in 1964.

The movement accelerated with Pope John Paul II, a true "globetrotter" who set a record with 104 trips abroad. Following his lead, Pope Benedict XVI maintained this tradition with 24 visits outside Italy. He was followed by Pope Francis, who made 47 trips over 12 years. In the 61 years between 1964 and the end of 2025, popes visited a total of 137 countries.

Among the remaining 57 states, there are 18 small island nations in the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Indian Ocean. In rare instances, popes have visited some islands: Pope John Paul II traveled to the Seychelles and St. Lucia, while Pope Paul VI visited Samoa.

The list of unvisited countries also includes 20 Muslim-majority nations, most notably Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Malaysia. Furthermore, there are five Orthodox countries (linked to the Patriarchates of Moscow or Serbia) and five Buddhist nations to which a pope has never traveled.

Another significant category is communist or ex-communist states, particularly where Catholicism is a minority religion. This is the case in Belarus, a traditionally Orthodox country where Catholics make up about 10% of the population. It's also true for Russia, China, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

Geographically, Asia accounts for more than a third of the unvisited countries (21 states). Africa follows with 13 nations, including Ethiopia and Eritrea (both Christian countries and former Italian colonies), as well as several countries in the Sahel region.

Next is Oceania with its eight unvisited island nations, and the Americas with eight countries (including Suriname, Guyana, and six Caribbean islands). Finally, Europe has only seven unvisited nations, including Moldova, Montenegro, and Serbia.

Looking at probable destinations for the coming years, Vietnam is one of the most likely candidates. This is thanks to improved diplomatic relations with the Holy See and a vibrant Vietnamese Catholic community.

Following Pope Leo XIV's visit to Monaco on March 28, 2026, Vatican sources have also mentioned an unprecedented trip to Andorra. Current diplomatic relations make visits to Montenegro and Oman a possibility, too. However, the war in Iran and regional instability make a trip to Oman unlikely in the short term.

Finally, the list of unvisited nations could actually grow in 2027. A new state is expected to join the international community following an independence referendum in Bougainville, which is currently part of Papua New Guinea. While Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis have both visited Papua New Guinea, no pontiff has ever set foot on this island. It’s named after the famous 18th-century French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville.