The Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Archdiocese of Port of Spain have formally invited Pope Leo XIV to visit the twin-island republic, raising hopes that the Caribbean could soon welcome its first papal visit in more than four decades.
Speaking following meetings in Rome, Archbishop Jason Gordon confirmed that the invitation was delivered to senior Vatican officials during a recent gathering of the Antilles Episcopal Conference.
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“The Central Government and the Archdiocese of Port of Spain have invited Pope Leo XIV to visit,” Gordon said, explaining that copies of the invitation were submitted through both diplomatic and church channels, including the papal nuncio and the Vatican Secretary of State.
According to the archbishop, the Vatican has not rejected the proposal, leaving open the possibility of a future visit.
“We just have to pray, hope and wait and see,” Gordon remarked, noting that Vatican officials listened attentively when the invitation was presented.
The initiative has the support of the administration of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and is being viewed as an opportunity to strengthen ties between the Caribbean and the Holy See.
If the visit materializes, it would mark the first papal trip to Trinidad and Tobago since Pope John Paul II visited the country on February 5, 1985. During that historic stop, the late pontiff highlighted the nation’s connection to the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity, from which Trinidad derives its name.
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, made history in 2025 by becoming the first American-born pope and the first pontiff known to hold both U.S. and Peruvian citizenship.
The invitation comes as the pope maintains an active international travel schedule. In 2026 alone, he has undertaken visits to several African nations and is currently concluding a major apostolic journey to Spain, his fourth international trip since becoming pope.
While no decision has been announced by the Vatican, church leaders in the Caribbean remain optimistic that Pope Leo XIV could eventually include the region on a future pastoral journey, bringing renewed attention to the Catholic community across the Caribbean.
