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New entry requirements for the European Union

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If you plan to travel to Europe from the U.S., Canada or many other countries after April 10, you need to be prepared for the Entry Exit System, or EES. While most major airports in the EU have already gone online with this program, the system will be fully operational by April 10, 2026.

The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is in effect, having started its gradual rollout on October 12, 2025. It operates at external borders of 29 European countries, replacing physical passport stamps for non-EU travelers with digital biometric scans (fingerprints/facial images). Full, mandatory implementation is expected by April 9, 2026.

The system is designed to enhance security and track compliance with stay durations. being introduced in phases, meaning not all border points (airports, sea ports, land borders) are fully automated immediately. While operational, some border points may still use traditional, manual stamping for a limited time during the transition period ending in April 2026.

Used in 25 EU member states (excluding Ireland and Cyprus) and 4 Schengen-associated countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland), the EES is a biometric screening requirement for entry into the EU. What does that mean? It means that upon arrival, you will need to go to a kiosk and have your picture or fingerprints taken before proceeding to passport control. This system is compulsory. Unlike in the US, where you can bypass the facial recognition scan when going through security.

There have been some reports of delays with the system upon arrival, but it seems that most airports have adjusted and are processing people quickly at this point.

This is the first step in a two-step security enhancement for entering the EU.

The next rollout, called ETIAS, will require travelers from many countries (including the USA) to pre-register for entry via a government website. This is coming online in the fourth quarter of 2026, but official dates are not yet available.

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Behind the Scenes: Finding Faith in the Face of Crisis

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We are reprinting this article by Matt Maszczak, Vice President of Select International Tours, with their permission.

Behind the Scenes: Finding Faith in the Face of Crisis

The day started like any other Saturday, until the buzz of my phone sliced through the 7 AM silence. It was Edita, the President of Select International Tours. Four words: “Turn on the news.” I knew instantly. We had 500 pilgrims preparing to depart for the Holy Land, and military action had just shut down travel. Again!

While the East Coast was just waking up to the alarming headlines, our team was already in motion, connecting with our partners on the ground in Israel. The relief of confirming their safety was quickly followed by a striking realization: unlike COVID-19 or the October 7 attacks, our contacts saw these new events not as a setback; but as a difficult, necessary step toward a safer, more stable future. They were optimistic. With no groups currently in the region, all our focus immediately pivoted to upcoming departures.

What happened next was a powerful testament to the deep faith of our group leaders: they were overwhelmingly supportive. Less than 24 hours after the crisis began, the first scheduled priest convened his pilgrims. Together, they decided to proceed with the April trip unless travel was absolutely impossible. The next three group leaders echoed this resolve, a steady refusal to let fear take root.

When we arrived at the office on Monday morning, our staff was fully engaged, braced for panic, but instead, we were met with an unexpected calm. Most pilgrims set to depart in April and May had reasonable questions, which were answered with care and reassurance. We shared the conviction that our Lord is in control, even amid the most unsettling uncertainty.

While part of our team fielded these calls, others plunged into critical, hour-by-hour discussions with overseas partners, the State Department, airlines, and the countless services that weave our pilgrimages together. This task of information gathering and planning is inherently time-consuming, but after six years of recent crises and 38 years of overall experience, one truth has been proven repeatedly: rash decisions in the face of global events are almost always the wrong ones.

Every single one of our trusted contacts agreed: This is not the time to make big changes. This is the time to wait, see, and trust. They believe this military action will be short-lived, that life in Israel will return to normal, and travel will resume in no time.

One of the core benefits of selecting Select International Tours for your pilgrimage is the ability to rely on our extensive experience and established network. This ensures that all decisions are grounded in real-time information, moving beyond conjecture or reactive decisions.

Today’s news cycle makes waiting difficult. Headlines are designed to keep us anxious. But pilgrimage has never been about certainty. In times like these, we reflect on the medieval pilgrims who set out for the Holy Land or Rome with very little expectation of returning. Their journey was a difficult, serious commitment. By contrast, modern pilgrimages are often approached with an expectation of comfort and certainty. Have we lost something in that approach?

While assessing risk is necessary—and Select International will never knowingly expose anyone to danger—we must guard against allowing fear to dictate our lives. For now, we continue to monitor events, stay closely connected with our partners, and pray together. God is in control, He loves us deeply, and He’s waiting to meet us on pilgrimage, regardless of where we ultimately go to meet Him.

You can find out more about Select International Tours here.

 

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Is Cuba the next domino to fall?

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The dictatorship in Venezuela has fallen….so now comes the question: “Is Cuba the next domino to fall?” And how will it affect Catholics in Cuba and elsewhere?

In March 2026, Cuba faces its most severe crisis in decades, driven by a U.S. oil blockade that has cut off fuel imports—previously supplied largely by Venezuela—following Maduro’s fall earlier this year. Severe blackouts plague the island: massive outages, including from the Antonio Guiteras plant shutdown in early March, have left millions without power for up to 20+ hours daily in places like Havana and Matanzas.

 

 

Protesters in Cuba
Photo courtesy Jesuit.org

This has triggered protests (almost unheard of in the past), with residents banging pots in the dark (cacerolazos) and some even storming and torching local Communist Party offices amid frustration over shortages, crumbling infrastructure, and economic collapse.

Residents are no longer afraid of speaking out, and fear is the one thing that holds most repressive regimes together.  Without it, they lose power.

U.S. President Trump has intensified pressure, blocking alternative suppliers and floating ideas like a “friendly takeover.” Allies like Senator Lindsey Graham have declared Cuba the next domino to fall (did he borrow our title?), with its regime’s “days numbered” in a post-Venezuela push for regime change in the region. Amid the chaos, President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed on March 13 direct talks with the U.S., involving himself and former leader Raúl Castro. The discussions aim to resolve bilateral differences through “dialogue and respect” for sovereignty, with Cuba framing them as urgent to ease the fuel crisis. A related goodwill move released 51 prisoners via Vatican mediation.

While some see this as a sign of desperation and inevitable collapse—echoing the Soviet-era “Special Period”—others note the regime’s historical resilience through concessions rather than full surrender.

To be perfectly clear, Díaz-Canel and the Castro regime are tyrants. Any deals made with them will be pointless. They have imprisoned, tortured, and murdered their own people for over six decades.

Of course, as most know, you cannot negotiate with a terrorist regime and there is really only one choice: either the regime falls and is hopefully replaced by a democratic one, or the repression of the Cuban people continues…along with reprisals for those who dared to confront the government.

The domino teeters: For now, the regime adapts under extreme strain, but to some the outcome remains uncertain in this high-stakes 2026 standoff.

Here at the Catholic Travel Guide we hope (and expect) that this regime will fall and Catholics (as well as the general population) on the island have greater freedom.  In addition to freeing up the Cuban people, the fact that it is only 90 miles from the U.S.

Direct flights from Miami (MIA) to Havana (HAV) typically take around 1 hour, 30 minutes, serviced frequently by U.S. carriers like American Airlines and Delta. Today these flights are primarily Cuban Americans visiting family, alongside authorized U.S. travelers engaged in educational, religious, journalistic, or “Support for the Cuban People” activities….but soon we expect Cuba will probably be a popular pilgrimage destination for many Catholics, since the country has some some important shrines and churches.

You can read more about some of the Catholic places of interest in Cuba here on our site.

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Will we someday be traveling to Iran?

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Writing this post on March 11, 2026, we are anxious to see how well it will age….we won’t take it down, we’ll just watch it play out.

A country dominating the news these days, Iran poses both a threat and a promise for peace not only in the Middle East but the entire world.

We are reminded of a quote from the fictional movie “Margin Call” (2011), where the C.E.O. John Tuld (Jeremy Irons) explains his role in the company during the crisis portrayed in the movie (the market has just collapsed), talking about the phrase “when the music stops”.

The quote is: “I’m here for one reason and one reason alone. I’m here to guess what the music might do a week, a month, a year from now. That’s it. Nothing more. And standing here tonight, I’m afraid that I don’t hear – a – thing. Just… silence.”

Note: it is a shame that the movie is laced with profanity…it really adds nothing of any value, and the plot can stand on its own.

So…when the music stops in Iran…it can be weeks or months away, but it will almost certainly stop….what will Iran look like? What will the Middle East look like? What will the world look like?

We wish we were like the John Tuld character…able to see in to the future, but we are not. We can, however, see some of the possibilities. Some are hopeful, some not.

With Shah waiting in the wings, it seems likely to us that a new government will be formed with him as a leader….but not as a dictator, or so we are promised.

Can democracy flourish, or even survive, in the Middle East?  To be sure, there are few countries in the area that offer freedom (Israel being the main exception).  Turkey became fairly secular under Kemal Attaturk , but over the past decade has become increasingly autocratic.

Even more important, can Christianity and Islam really co-exist?

Iran offers several places of interest to Catholics, but at what risk? Probably not today…but perhaps soon?  When predicting events in the Middle East, we are certainly no John Tuld.

 

 

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Traveling to the Middle East

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With all the headlines concerning the fighting in Iran, people are naturally wondering about travel to the Middle East.

We realize how difficult it must be  to decide whether to travel now or postpone your trip. Tell someone that you are traveling to the Middle East and you will likely get a highly negative response. 

Back in the 1990″s when we were traveling to Medjugorje in the midst of the war in Bosnia & Herzegovina, we heard them all: “don’t you know there is a war going on there?”…… “are you crazy?”.…. etc. etc.  But the reality was different….yes, there was a war going on, but thousands of pilgrims visited during those days and did not come to harm…the fighting was close, but Medjugorje was spared. 

How odd it was to sit outside in a cafe having a cappuccino while the folks back home thought we were hiding out in a foxhole.  So, while we don’t minimize the dangers in travel, neither do we wish to blow it out of proportion.

We are sharing this email from Select International Tours that they sent to those getting ready to travel to the Middle East.

Fellow Pilgrims,

The events in the Middle East have been difficult to watch; we’re sure you agree. This is especially true when we consider the real toll that these military actions have on the people living there. Thankfully, all of our friends and partners in the Holy Land are safe. The staff at Select International Tours are praying for peace, and we hope that you are praying along with us. We especially remember our brothers and sisters in Christ who are living in the affected areas. May God watch over them and keep them safe.

As you might imagine, the last few days have been a whirlwind of activity in our office. We have had countless meetings with people much closer to the events than we are. We have spoken with partners in the affected region, friends in the State Department, group leaders, and pilgrims…the list goes on. In all these meetings, the overwhelming sentiment has been hope: hope that this will be short-lived and pave the way for a safer region in the future. This is what we are praying for.

We will never send pilgrims into harm’s way, and thankfully, we have no groups in the Holy Land at this time.

Our next group to the Holy Land is scheduled to depart the first week of April. The priest leading the group met with the pilgrims last weekend, and together they decided to go, if travel is possible at that time. Likewise, three other groups are planning to depart in May, and the group leaders are committed to traveling unless circumstances prevent them. Their faith and dedication are inspiring and uplifting to us as we wade through all the challenges.

We understand that it is easy to give way to fear when the news cycle is constantly broadcasting the worst, but in this time of Lent, let us remember, in the midst of our earthly struggles, we look ahead to Easter. As we prepare our hearts, let’s pray together for an end to violence and place our hope in the Resurrection.

“O Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything!”

Sincerely,

Edita Krunic

President of Select International Tours

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Pope Leo will travel to Italy

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On February 19 the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV will travel to six destinations across Italy this year, all either day or half-day trips, ranging from the south to the north of Italy.

OK, we created that headline to see if you were paying attention….as you probably know, Pope Leo does not live in Italy….he lives in the Vatican City State…in effect, a separate country…..sharing its entire 2-mile (approx. 3.2 kilometer  land border exclusively with Italy…..Vatican City-state is actually an enclave situated surrounded by the city of Rome. So, whenever he ventures more than a few hundred yards, he is in Italy.

The announcement of the Italian trips comes amid speculation about Pope Leo’s international travels. The Vatican has yet to officially confirm any international papal travel in 2026 (we might point out that since Vatican City-State is a separate country, any travel outside of Vatican City is technically “international”).

Here is Pope Leo’s travel schedule in Italy for May 2026:

As mentioned, these are short trips, either half-day or full-day.  In each case he will return to the Vatican each night.

May 8
Pompeii:  The most symbolic of the trips will bring the pope south to the Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeii on the first anniversary of his election to the Papacy on May 8, 2025. which is also the The Feast of Our Lady of Pompeii (also known as Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii), to whom Pope Leo entrusted his mission as pope. He will offer Mass here.

Naples: He will then travel to nearby Naples for an afternoon visit, where he will meet with clergy and religious at the city’s cathedral and greet the faithful in the Piazza Plebiscito, one of the largest public squares in Italy.

May 23
Acerra (the ‘Land of Fires’):  On May 23, the pope is scheduled to visit Acerra, a town of roughly 60,000 people located about nine miles northeast of Naples in a region known as the Terre dei Fuochi, or “Land of Fires.” For decades, the area has been afflicted by illegal waste dumping and burning, much of it linked to organized crime, causing elevated rates of illness among local residents. Pope Leo has chosen to visit on the eve of the anniversary of “Laudato Si’,” Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical on care for the environment.

June 20
Pavia: the final resting place of St. Augustine.  On June 20, the Augustinian pope will travel north to Pavia, a city in Lombardy, to pay tribute to St. Augustine of Hippo. The Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro in Pavia houses the remains of the fourth-century bishop and theologian, one of the most influential figures in Christian history. Augustine, born in what is now Algeria, died in A.D. 430. His relics were transferred north to Lombardy in the eighth century.

July 4
Lampedusa: Pope Leo will visit Lampedusa, the tiny Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea that lies closer to the coast of Tunisia, roughly 70 miles away, than to Sicily, some 127 miles to the north. Pope Francis visited Lampedusa in July 2013 to draw attention to those who had lost their lives attempting the crossing from the African coast, making it the first trip of his pontificate. The island has since remained a powerful symbol of the global migration crisis, serving as a primary European entry point for migrants, many coming from Libya and Tunisia.

August 6
Assisi: Pope Leo will travel to Assisi today, the Umbrian hill town and birthplace of St. Francis, to offer Mass and meet with young Europeans as part of the Church’s celebration of the special jubilee year marking the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’s death. The papal visit coincides with the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord and falls a few days after the annual celebration for Assisi’s Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, the 16th-century Church built over the small chapel where St. Francis founded the Franciscan order. Each year during the first week of August pilgrims to the basilica can receive a plenary indulgence (under the usual conditions), recalling St. Francis mystical experience at the site in 1216 in which St. Francis asked Christ to offer complete remission of all sins, to all those who, repented and confessed, within that Church.

August 22
Rimini: The final announced visit will take Pope Leo to Rimini on Aug. 22 for the Meeting for Friendship Amongst Peoples, an annual gathering organized by Communion and Liberation, a Catholic lay movement with roots in Italy. Pope Leo will be the first pope to attend the event, known informally as the Rimini Meeting, and will also offer Mass with Catholics of the diocese.

Although not officially confirmed, the following are often mentioned:

Bishops in Angola and Equatorial Guinea have referenced upcoming papal visits, and Church officials in Spain have similarly indicated they expect Pope Leo in June.

A one-day visit to Monaco and a year-end return to Peru, where Pope Leo spent significant years of his ministry before his election to the papacy, has also been the subject of discussion.

A Vatican spokesman confirmed earlier this month that there are no plans for Pope Leo to travel to the United States or Mexico this year.

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Pope Leo apostolic journey to Africa: Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea,

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The Vatican announced on February 25, 2026, that he will undertake a 10-day apostolic journey to four African countries from April 13 to 23, 2026. This marks his first pastoral trip to the continent as pope and highlights the rapid growth of Catholicism in Africa, where the number of Catholics is increasing faster than anywhere else in the world.

Key Stops include:

Algeria (April 13–15): Algiers and Annaba (following in the footsteps of St. Augustine, born in what is now Algeria; this will be the first-ever papal visit to the country).

Cameroon (April 15–18): Yaoundé (capital), Douala (economic hub), and Bamenda (in the restive Northwest region amid ongoing conflict).

Angola (April 18–21): Luanda, Muxima, and Saurimo.

Equatorial Guinea (April 21–23): Malabo, Mongomo, and Bata (the continent’s only Spanish-speaking nation).

The full official program of events has not yet been released, but the trip is expected to emphasize interfaith dialogue (especially Christian-Muslim relations in Algeria), support for development, community outreach, and strengthening ties with growing African Catholic communities.

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As Catholic Christians, how do we deal with immigration? Here’s what St Thomas Aquinas had to say.

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We don’t often go off topic, but we did find this interesting, so we will share it with you.

Immigration is a hot—and divisive–topic here in the U.S. and elsewhere. Divisive amongst the overall population and,  also,  amongst many Catholics. “Love thy neighbor” is often invoked when discussing immigration (taken a bit out of context, in our humble opinion).

Saint Thomas AquinasIn his Summa Theologiae (originally published in 1274 AD), Saint Thomas Aquinas laid out one of the most charitable, yet practical, arguments concerning immigration that effectively shaped the West for almost 1,000 years.

1. Immigration must always be proportionate so that foreigners can properly assimilate into the culture and mode of worship of the state.

2. Citizenship – and associated rights – should only ever be granted after the third generation to preserve the culture, mode of worship, and constitution of the state.

3. The common good of the citizens must remain the highest priority of the state, meaning, the state’s obligation to provide aid to its neighbors can never be at the expense of the citizens.

However, Aquinas ends with the sobering reminder that some peoples and states are incompatible with one another, and these must be held as “foes in perpetuity”.

By the way, getting back on topic, you can find the tomb of Saint Thomas Aquinas here in Toulouse, France.

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Are cruises still popular?

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The cruise industry has fully recovered from the pandemic and is setting repeated records in passenger numbers. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)’s 2025 State of the Cruise Industry Report:Global ocean-going passengers reached 34.6 million in 2024. That’s projected to grow to around 37.7 million in 2025 and continue upward to about 39.6 million in 2026 (with forecasts reaching 42 million by 2028).

This represents steady year-over-year growth, driven by new ships, expanded itineraries, and strong consumer demand.

In the U.S. (a major market), AAA’s forecasts show even clearer momentum:About 20.7 million Americans cruised in 2025 (higher than initial projections).
A record 21.7 million are expected in 2026—a 4.5% increase from 2025 and part of four straight years of record-breaking volume.

Other key signs of ongoing popularity include: High repeat intent: 82% of recent cruisers plan to cruise again.

Younger demographics joining in: Gen Z shows strong interest (e.g., 76% of those who’ve cruised before plan to return), with lines like Royal Caribbean reporting big increases in younger passengers.

Trends like mega-ships, shorter Caribbean trips (the top destination for U.S. cruisers at ~72%), solo cabins, multi-generational travel, and themed voyages (music, food, etc.) are fueling growth.

Overall, cruising remains one of the fastest-growing segments in travel, offering value (most everything is included), convenience, and variety that appeal across ages and interests. If anything, 2026 looks set to be another peak.

Ocean cruises and river cruises are two types of cruises, each with their own plusses and minuses.

And, you can usually incorporate your Catholic faith in any cruise….be on the lookout for cruises designed for Catholics, such as the river cruises offered by Select International Tours. You will travel with fellow Catholics, with daily Mass (a priest travels with the group) and an emphasis on Catholic sites visited.

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Pope Leo XIV possible visit to Monaco in March

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The Holy See Press Office has confirmed that a visit by Leo XIV to the Principality of Monaco is currently being considered for the end of March.

On January 17, 2026, Prince Albert II of Monaco traveled to the Vatican to meet the new Pope. On that occasion, he officially invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Monaco. A few weeks later, the Holy See Press Office told journalists that the project was indeed under consideration without specifying the final details. It could be a one-day trip, similar to Pope Francis’s short visit to Corsica on 15 December 2024.

If the visit goes ahead, it would be of considerable historical significance, as no Pope has ever visited Monaco. However, Monaco’s attachment to the new Pontiff is part of a tradition of respectful diplomatic relations and historically strong ties with the Holy See.

Catholicism is the state religion in Monaco, and it was precisely under the pontificate of Pope Leo XIII that Monaco gained its religious autonomy, with the creation of its own diocese in 1887. A symbolic detail that is sure to resonate: the current Leo XIV chose his papal name in reference to Leo XIII, known for his teachings on social justice.

The Principality also shares with the Vatican the status of being one of the smallest sovereign states in the world (less than one square mile in area, with some 39,000 inhabitants).

The short one-day format would limit the trip to central Monte Carlo/Monaco-Ville area, probably including a formal welcome, private audience, and possibly a meeting or address in the Prince’s Palace (Palais Princier) in Monaco-Ville: As the official residence of Prince Albert II, this would almost certainly feature.

We assume he would also visit Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (also known as Saint Nicholas Cathedral), the main Catholic cathedral in Monaco, burial site of many Grimaldi family members (including Grace Kelly).

The program would likely involve a Mass, meetings with clergy/authorities, and greetings to the faithful, emphasizing unity, peace, and Catholic values in a historic first for the principality.Official confirmation and a detailed schedule are expected in the coming weeks.

You can read moe Catholic places of interest in Monaco here.