For his fifth international trip, Pope Leo XIV will be going to San Marino, a tiny nation of only 35,000 people.
Coincidentally, it's also the world's fifth-smallest country and, like Vatican City, it's completely surrounded by Italian territory.
San Marino prides itself on being the oldest Republic in the world. It has remained independent since 1243, despite invasions and various efforts to conquer it.
The country has a unique democratic system with two heads of state, known as the Captains Regent who rotate every six months. The citizens of San Marino elect the parliament, which then chooses the members of the executive branch.
When it comes to religion, the Catholic community is just as small as the country itself. Most people do identify as Catholic, but they are served by a single diocese, that's shared with Italy, and just 12 parishes.
Now, the people are eagerly awaiting Pope Leo after having welcomed St. John Paul II in 1982 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.
And the reason for the trip? To mark 100 years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the world’s oldest republic.
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