Pope Leo XIV is set to begin his first major international tour of Africa on Monday, with visits planned to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
The 11-day trip, which runs until April 23, will see the US-born pontiff travel more than 18,000 kilometres across the continent, addressing a wide range of issues from interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding to inequality and human rights.
Since becoming pope last May, Leo has led a global Catholic community of about 1.4 billion people. This trip will be his third outside Italy, following earlier visits to Turkey, Lebanon and Monaco.
Algeria
The pope’s first stop will be Algeria, where he will make history as the first pontiff to visit the country. Islam is the state religion there, making the visit especially significant.
He is expected to visit the Great Mosque of Algiers, meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and spend time with members of the Augustinian order in Annaba once home to Saint Augustine.
He will also hold a private prayer in honour of priests and nuns killed during Algeria’s civil war in the 1990s.
Cameroon
In Cameroon, attention will likely turn to the ongoing conflict in the English-speaking northwest.
The pope is expected to call for peace and reconciliation during a visit to Bamenda, one of the hardest-hit areas.
He will also meet President Paul Biya and visit Catholic-run schools, hospitals and charities. The Church has long played a role in mediating the crisis.
Angola
The next stop is Angola, a country rich in natural resources but still struggling with poverty and the scars of past conflict.
Here, Leo is expected to speak about fairer distribution of wealth and the need to tackle corruption.
He will visit Luanda and also travel to Muxima, a historic religious site along an old slave trade route.
While many Catholics are looking forward to the visit, some citizens have raised concerns about the cost of hosting such a high-profile trip.
Equatorial Guinea:
The final leg takes him to Equatorial Guinea, where he will need to tread carefully. The country has been under the long rule of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo for decades.
With a largely Catholic population, the pope’s visit is expected to carry messages around human rights and social justice while avoiding any perception of endorsing the government.
With global tensions running high, especially due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, the pope’s words during this tour are likely to carry significant weight not just for Africa, but for the wider world.
