Pope Francis has made it a cornerstone of his papacy to visit the peripheries of society, where he has become a champion of the marginalized and oppressed. His first international trip outside of Rome was to the Italian island of Lampedusa, where he used the rhetoric of the “throwaway culture” versus the “culture of encounter” that has become a central theme of his social and political agenda.

Since then, Pope Francis has made 40 international trips, traveling to the far corners of the globe to promote peace, ecumenical outreach, and inter-religious dialogue. He has visited countries such as Myanmar, Albania, Armenia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, and Cuba, where he held a surprise meeting with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. He has also made five trips to the African continent, denouncing violence and rising Islamist terrorism.

The pope’s trips have not only focused on global issues but have also addressed the needs of the Catholic Church worldwide. He has supported Catholic communities in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, where the church is growing either by the preaching of missionaries or by the blood of martyrs. He has visited active war zones, such as the Central African Republic and Bangui, where he endorsed the example of tolerance and brotherhood shown by the Catholic Archbishop, Protestant leader, and Islamic leader who are great friends.

In 2015, Pope Francis visited the United States, where he met with abuse victims and promised to act. He also canonized Saint Junipero Serra and spoke to Congress. One of his most memorable trips was to Canada in 2022, where he made an impassioned apology to the country’s indigenous peoples for the church’s role in the Canadian Indian residential school system.

The 86-year-old pontiff shows no signs of slowing down his commitment to visiting the global church, with more journeys planned in the coming months, including to Hungary, Portugal, and possibly even Mongolia. His visits have been imbued with hope, with his homilies speaking about the reconciliation through suffering offered by Christ.

In conclusion, Pope Francis’s papal trips have become a significant Catholic story of our time. He has used his visits to promote peace, tolerance, and brotherhood, and to support Catholic communities worldwide. His commitment to visiting the peripheries of society has made him a champion of the marginalized and oppressed, and his message of hope has inspired many around the world.