Why is the pope heading to San Marino?

Key Points:

• Pope Leo will visit San Marino, a tiny micronation with a population of 35,000, known for its unique historical ties to the Catholic Church and as one of the world's oldest sovereign states; this is the first papal visit since Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.
• During his visit, Pope Leo will meet San Marino's co-presidents, deliver an apostolic blessing, lead a holy hour venerating Saint Marinus' relics, and visit Augustinian nuns before attending the Rimini Meeting in Italy, a major political and cultural event.
• San Marino was founded in 301 by Saint Marinus, a Christian stonemason fleeing persecution, and has maintained independence through papal protection, surviving occupations and wars, with a constitutional framework dating back to 1600, considered the world's oldest still in force.
• Despite being fully surrounded by Italy and historically under Papal States' influence, San Marino preserved its sovereignty through papal recognition and international support, including during the Napoleonic Wars and World War II, when it provided asylum to thousands.
• The Catholic Church in San Marino serves a predominantly Catholic population through the Diocese of Montefeltro-San Marino, which spans two countries; notable Sanmarinese figures include athletes and the honorary U.S. citizen Abraham Lincoln, who praised the republic's enduring governance.