The Vatican has announced that Pope Leo will embark on a 10-day visit to Africa from April 13 to April 23, marking his first major overseas trip of 2026.
According to the Holy See Press Office, the pontiff will travel to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
The visit is expected to draw large crowds and encourage global leaders to support development initiatives across the continent while promoting Catholic-Muslim dialogue and peace efforts.
In Algeria, the pope will visit Algiers and Annaba, following in the footsteps of Saint Augustine of Hippo.
He will then travel to Cameroon, stopping in Yaoundé, Bamenda, and Douala, including the conflict-affected Anglophone region where unrest has persisted for a decade.
The trip continues to Angola, with visits planned to Luanda, Muxima, and Saurimo, before concluding in Equatorial Guinea with stops in Malabo, Mongomo, and Bata the only Spanish-speaking nation in Africa.
Vatican officials say the tour will emphasise peace, support for the poor and vulnerable, and the role of faith communities in development.
Church leaders say the trip highlights Africa’s growing importance to global Catholicism. About 20% of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics live on the continent, according to Vatican statistics.
Nigerian Jesuit Reverend Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator said the visit will underscore Africa’s importance to the global Church and showcase its vibrancy.
Pope Leo, elected in May to succeed Pope Francis, has made only one foreign trip so far to Turkey and Lebanon late last year.
Ahead of the Africa tour, he is scheduled to visit Monaco on March 28 and Spain from June 6 to June 12, including the Canary Islands, a key entry point for migrants attempting to reach Europe.
