Pope Leo XIV to Tour Africa, Advocating Peace and Social Justice. City, Country — Rome, Italy — Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to embark on his first major tour of Africa in April, a visit that aims to unite faith, diplomacy, and a strong call for peace, justice, and equality across the continent.
The tour will take him to four countries: Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
The pope will deliver seven masses and 11 speeches, focusing on the needs of each nation and the broader challenges facing the African continent. Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming tour of Africa, which begins April 13 in Algiers, is a landmark event in the history of the Catholic Church on the continent. His visit is anticipated to foster interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding efforts, and address critical social issues such as corruption, inequality, and resource conflicts.
In Algeria, the pope will meet with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and celebrate mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, marking the first papal visit to the North African nation.
The pope’s trip to Cameroon will include a meeting with long-serving President Paul Biya and a visit to Bamenda, a city embroiled in a separatist crisis for over a decade. Here, Pope Leo XIV is expected to issue a resolute appeal for peace.
The Angola leg of the tour will concentrate on social justice issues, including corruption and inequality, as well as resource conflicts.
In Luanda, the pope will meet with diplomats and visit various religious and social institutions.
The tour will conclude in Equatorial Guinea, where Pope Leo XIV will visit Malabo, Mongomo, and Bata, engaging with clergy, visiting educational institutions, and offering prayers at a memorial for victims of a 2021 explosion.
This visit is Pope Leo XIV’s third abroad since his election in 2025, reflecting the Vatican’s growing focus on Africa, a continent where issues of interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding, and social inequality are central to the pontiff’s message.
The details of the pope’s itinerary and his addresses are eagerly awaited by both the faithful and policymakers across Africa. Further details about the tour’s impact and the pope’s messages are expected as the trip progresses.
