Record-Breaking Year for U.S. Visitors’ to the Vatican Following Election of the American Pope Leo XIV

New Statistics Reveal a Record-Breaking Year for U.S. Visitors’ Office Following Election of American Pope

The Bishops’ Office for U.S. Visitors to the Vatican, near Rome’s Trevi Fountain, reported a historic surge in activity during 2025. A "perfect storm" of monumental events—the Jubilee Year, the passing of Pope Francis, and the unprecedented election of the first U.S. pope—drove a massive influx of American pilgrims to the Eternal City.

2025: A Year of Transition and Growth

Despite a reduced schedule of papal audiences due to the transition between papacies, the office saw a 64% increase in ticket requests compared to the previous year.

Metric2024 Statistics2025 Statistics
Tickets Distributed~21,900~24,000
Number of Audiences4228
Avg. Tickets per Audience~521~857

The demand peaked following the election of Pope Leo on May 8. While the office typically welcomes 900 people during peak seasons, Pope Leo’s first audience saw more than 1,800 attendees, with requests climbing as high as 2,300 for audiences held around the Thanksgiving holiday.

Key Events Driving Pilgrimage

Several major milestones in the liturgical and Vatican calendar triggered "huge spikes" in inquiries and visitor volume:

  • April 21: The death of Pope Francis.

  • April 26: The funeral of Pope Francis.

  • May 8: The election of Pope Leo (originally from Illinois).

  • May 18: The inaugural Mass of Pope Leo.

  • Sept 7: The canonization of St. Carlo Acutis (originally scheduled for April).

More Than Just Tickets

Located in the Casa Santa Maria, the office is staffed by the Mercy Sisters of Alma, Michigan. While their primary visible task is distributing free tickets for Wednesday audiences and papal Masses, their mission is deeply spiritual.

  • Confessions: The office coordinated 4–6 priests to hear confessions for several hours during ticket distribution days.

  • Spiritual Guidance: The sisters provide catechesis on the papacy and the significance of the apostolic blessing.

  • Sanctuary: During the weeks between Pope Francis' death and the election of Pope Leo, the office remained open for Eucharistic adoration and prayer.

Home State Pride

The office also tracked visitor data by U.S. geography. While the most populous states—California, Texas, and Florida—led the rankings, Illinois saw a significant surge in visitors, outperforming New York as pilgrims traveled to support Pope Leo, a native of the Prairie State.

Traveler Tip: If you are heading to a papal audience, the office reminds visitors that metal water bottles and rolling suitcases are strictly prohibited at Vatican security checkpoints.

Source: https://www.usccb.org/news/2026/us-visitors-office-saw-big-uptick-serving-pilgrims-during-2025 

Image Vatican Media 

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