By Ayomide Otitoju
Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on an 11-day tour of Africa beginning Monday, marking his first major international trip since ascending to the papacy last year.
The visit will take the 70-year-old pontiff across Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, covering more than 18,000 kilometres. The trip, scheduled to run until April 23, will include 11 speeches, seven masses, and visits to multiple locations.
The pope, who became head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics in May, is expected to address a wide range of issues, including interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding, inequality, and human rights, against the backdrop of global uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict and its economic impact.
The African tour will be Leo’s third trip outside Italy, following earlier visits to Turkey and Lebanon last year, and Monaco in March.
In Algeria, Leo will become the first pope to visit the predominantly Muslim nation, where Islam is the state religion. He is scheduled to tour the Great Mosque of Algiers and hold talks with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The pope will also travel to Annaba, the historic home of Saint Augustine, to meet members of the Augustinian order.
During his stay, Leo will privately pray in a chapel dedicated to 19 clergy members killed during Algeria’s civil war between 1992 and 2002. Ahead of the visit, international non-governmental organisations have urged the pontiff to raise concerns about the treatment of religious minorities in the country.
In Cameroon, where nearly a decade-long conflict has affected the English-speaking northwest region, the pope is expected to emphasise peace and reconciliation. A key highlight of the visit will be a mass and address in Bamenda, the epicentre of the crisis, under tight security.
Leo will also visit Catholic-run institutions, including hospitals, schools, and charities, in a country where about 37 percent of the population is Catholic. He is scheduled to meet President Paul Biya, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders.
The visit to Angola is expected to focus on social justice issues. Despite its wealth in oil and mineral resources, the country continues to grapple with widespread poverty and the legacy of its civil war, which ended in 2002. The pope is likely to call for equitable distribution of resources and stronger anti-corruption measures.
In Luanda, Leo will visit both affluent districts and impoverished communities, as well as the historic town of Muxima, a major religious site located along a former slave-trading route.
The final leg of the tour will take him to Equatorial Guinea, where President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has ruled since 1979. With around 80 percent of the population identifying as Catholic, the visit presents both an opportunity and a challenge, as the pope is expected to balance support for the faithful with messages on governance, human rights, and social justice.
In the city of Malabo, preparations for the visit have been visible, with large images of the pontiff displayed and state media airing continuous coverage ahead of his arrival.
