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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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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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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.

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Mount Melleray Abbey in Ireland to become a University Campus for Ave Maria University

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Mount Melleray Abbey was a historic Cistercian (Trappist) monastery on the slopes of the Knockmealdown Mountains near Cappoquin, County Waterford. It was founded in 1833 as the first post-Reformation Cistercian house established in Ireland in the post-Reformation period. It has served as a major Trappist community for nearly 200 years.

It was officially closed as an active monastic community in early 2025. By the time it closed, the community was down to single figures, yet the facilities were still there in a beautiful, peaceful setting.

Now, Ave Maria University is planning to use the famous monastery as a campus, keeping it open for Catholic purposes. Ave Maria University was founded by Tom Monaghan, who created Domino’s Pizza and his known for his Catholic philanthropic works.

Their main campus is Ave Maria, Florida.

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New exhibit at the Vatican: “Peter is here”

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“Pétros ení” (“Peter is here”) is an immersive exhibition exploring the story of the apostle Peter and the world’s largest Christian basilica. A journey that weaves together spirituality, art and technology in a unique blend of past and present.

The exhibition itinerary unfolds inside the Octagonal Halls, historic spaces located within one of the pillars supporting the Dome. These halls have been expertly restored for the occasion by the skilled artisans of the Fabbrica di San Pietro and opened to the public for the first time for this occasion.

The narrative journey follows two paths. One reveals the origins of the Basilica and its construction history, focusing on the tomb of Saint Peter. The other guides the visitor through the key events of the apostle’s life, up to his martyrdom. The story of Peter is interwoven with that of the Basilica, which is shown as it evolves through the centuries.

“Pétros ení: Saint Peter’s Digital Experience” is therefore a temporal and spiritual journey built around the figure of Saint Peter and the relevance of his testimony, which lives on reflected in the history of the Basilica and its living community.

The full experience lasts approximately 60 minutes and includes check-in at the meeting point, the transfer to the Octagonal Halls, the immersive exhibition (approx. 30 minutes), and access to the Vatican Grottoes, from where the self-guided Basilica tour with the Digital Audio Guide begins.

The project is the result of a wider collaboration between the Fabbrica di San Pietro, Microsoft, Iconem and other international partners. It centres on a process that made it possible to digitise Saint Peter’s Basilica in 3D using over 400,000 photographs, creating a faithful ‘digital twin’, supported in addition by artificial intelligence.

According to the Vatican, “This model not only allows visitors to virtually explore the Basilica in a totally innovative way — through a journey that began over two thousand years ago — but that also serves as a powerful tool for the maintenance, management and preservation of the immense artistic heritage contained within it“.

Source: Vatican News Service

Click here for the official website of the exhibit, including times and prices.

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What about the Catholic Churches in Iran?

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Iran is in the news, again….is this the time that the Mullahs are finally overturned? Hard news is difficult to come by, so we try to glean as much as possible from various reliable sources.

Catholic churches in Iran primarily belong to Eastern rites, mainly the Chaldean Catholic Church (Aramaic liturgy) and the Armenian Catholic Church, with a much smaller Latin (Roman) Rite presence, mostly for foreigners, with key locations in Tehran, Urmia, Isfahan, and Ahvaz, offering spiritual centers despite being a minority faith in a predominantly Muslim nation.

Chaldean Catholic Church: The largest Catholic body in Iran, with archdioceses in Tehran and Urmia, and dioceses in Ahvaz and Salmas, celebrating in Aramaic.

Armenian Catholic Church: Also present in Iran, with an Eparchy (diocese) in Isfahan, known for churches such as Surp Grigor Lusavorich.

Latin (Roman) Rite: A smaller community, mainly expatriates, with centers in Tehran (like the Cathedral of the Consolata) and Isfahan.

Key Churches & Centers in Iran:

Tehran: St. Joseph’s (Chaldean), Cathedral of the Consolata (Latin), Surp Grigor Lusavorich (Armenian).

Urmia: A significant center for the Chaldean Church, with the Cathedral of St. Mary the Mother of God.

Isfahan: Features the Armenian eparchy and Latin Rite churches like the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in New Julfa.

Ahvaz: Home to a Chaldean Archeparchy.

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South American shrine reports record numbers

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According to official shrine sources, over the course of 2025, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, in the interior of São Paulo state, Brazil, welcomed 10,486,118 pilgrims, according to statistics released in the first week of January 2026; a 15 percent increase compared with 2024, when 9,057,885 faithful made the journey to Brazil’s principal Marian sanctuary.

The Shrine is dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida (Nossa Senhora Aparecida), the principal patroness of Brazil. The devotion traces back to October 1717, when three fishermen (Domingos Martins Garcia, João Alves, and Filipe Pedroso) cast their nets in the Paraíba do Sul River after a fruitless day of fishing. They miraculously recovered a small, dark clay statue of the Virgin Mary in two pieces (body first, then head), after which their nets filled with fish. This event was seen as a miraculous sign, and the statue became known as Our Lady of Aparecida (“the Appeared One”).

Click here to learn more about the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil.