Pope Leo XIV will on Monday begin his first major international journey since ascending to the papacy, embarking on an 11-day tour across Africa that will take him to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
The US-born pontiff is expected to address a wide range of global and regional concerns, including interfaith dialogue with Islam, peacebuilding efforts, inequality and human rights, during the trip which will cover more than 18,000 kilometres (11,000 miles).
Since assuming leadership of the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion faithful in May, Leo will, during the tour, deliver 11 speeches, celebrate seven masses and visit about a dozen locations before returning on April 23.
At 70, the pope’s engagements are likely to draw significant global attention, particularly amid ongoing geopolitical tensions triggered by the Middle East war and its accompanying energy crisis.
This will mark Leo’s third trip outside Italy, following earlier visits to Turkey and Lebanon last year, as well as Monaco in March.
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Algeria (April 13–15)
The visit to Algeria will be historic, as Leo becomes the first pope to travel to the North African nation where Islam is the state religion.
During his stay, he is scheduled to visit the Great Mosque of Algiers and hold talks with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. He will also meet members of the Augustinian order in Annaba, a city closely associated with Saint Augustine.
The pope is “a brother who comes to visit his brothers”, Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, the archbishop of Algiers, told AFP ahead of the visit.
He is also expected to pray privately at a chapel dedicated to 19 priests and nuns killed during Algeria’s 1992–2002 civil war.
Ahead of the trip, three international NGOs urged the pontiff to raise issues relating to the treatment of religious minorities with Algerian authorities.
Cameroon (April 15–18): Focus on peace
In Cameroon, where Christians form the majority, the pope’s message is anticipated to centre on peace and reconciliation, particularly in the conflict-ridden English-speaking northwest region.
The highlight of his visit will be a mass and address in Bamenda, regarded as the epicentre of the crisis, with tight security expected.
Leo will also tour Catholic-run hospitals, schools and charities in the country, where about 37 per cent of the population is Catholic.
He is also expected to meet President Paul Biya, 93, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, who has faced periodic criticism from senior Catholic figures over his continued rule.
Angola (April 18–21)
The pope’s stop in Angola is expected to highlight social and economic concerns.
Despite its wealth in oil and minerals, the country continues to grapple with widespread poverty and the legacy of a civil war that ended in 2002.
Leo is likely to stress the importance of fair distribution of natural resource wealth and the need to combat corruption.
While many Angolan Catholics—who make up about 44 per cent of the population—are enthusiastic about the visit, some citizens have expressed reservations.
“At the societal level, it represents nothing, because millions of dollars will be taken from the state treasury to prepare, without bringing any benefits to our country,” teacher Rosa Kanga, 42, told AFP.
The pope will visit Luanda, where stark contrasts exist between affluent districts and sprawling slums, and will also travel to Muxima, home to a historic church along a former slave-trading route and one of the region’s most revered religious sites.
Equatorial Guinea (April 21–23): A delicate mission
Leo’s final stop will be Equatorial Guinea, where President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has ruled since 1979.
With around 80 per cent of the population identifying as Catholic, the visit carries both religious and political significance. Pope John Paul II remains the only pontiff to have previously visited the country, nearly 50 years ago.
Observers believe Leo will need to carefully balance support for local Catholics with the risk of appearing to legitimise the government, while also addressing issues of human rights and social justice.
In Malabo, recently stripped of its capital status by presidential decree, large images of the pope have been displayed ahead of his arrival, with state media continuously airing promotional material about the visit.
AFP
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