Pope Leo XIV will on Monday begin an 11-day tour of Africa, marking his first major international trip since becoming head of the Catholic Church in May 2025.
The visit will take him across Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, where he is expected to address key global and regional issues, including interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding, inequality and human rights. The US-born pontiff is scheduled to cover more than 18,000 kilometres during the trip, which ends on April 23.
During the visit, the 70-year-old pope will deliver 11 speeches, celebrate seven masses and visit multiple locations, with his engagements closely watched amid ongoing global tensions linked to conflicts in the Middle East and economic uncertainty.
Algeria (April 13–15)
The pope will make history as the first pontiff to visit Algeria, where Islam is the state religion. His itinerary includes a visit to the Great Mosque of Algiers and a meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
He will also travel to Annaba to meet members of the Augustinian order and pray at a chapel dedicated to 19 clergy members killed during Algeria’s civil war between 1992 and 2002. Human rights groups have urged him to raise concerns about the treatment of religious minorities during his visit.
Cameroon (April 15–18)
In Cameroon, the pope is expected to focus on peace and reconciliation, particularly in the conflict-affected English-speaking regions. He will hold a major mass and deliver a speech in Bamenda, a city at the centre of the unrest.
The visit will also include stops at Catholic-run hospitals, schools and charitable institutions. He is scheduled to meet President Paul Biya, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders.
Angola (April 18–21)
In Angola, Pope Leo XIV is expected to emphasise social justice issues, including poverty, inequality and corruption, despite the country’s vast natural resource wealth.
He will visit the capital, Luanda, and travel to Muxima, home to one of southern Africa’s most significant religious sites located along a historic slave trade route.
Equatorial Guinea (April 21–23)
The final leg of the trip will take the pope to Equatorial Guinea, where he is expected to strike a careful balance between supporting the Catholic community and addressing concerns about governance and human rights.
He is scheduled to meet President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and deliver messages centred on social justice and the welfare of citizens.
The tour will be the pope’s third trip outside Italy, following earlier visits to Turkey, Lebanon and Monaco, and is seen as a significant moment in shaping his global leadership and engagement with Africa.
Source: AFP
