Pope Leo XIV has commenced an 11-day significant tour across four African nations: Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. According to a senior Vatican official, the journey aims to “turn the world’s attention to Africa” and marks the pontiff’s second major foreign visit since his election in May last year. Africa is home to over a fifth of the world’s Catholics, approximately 288 million people, making it one of the fastest-growing regions for the Church, with Vatican surveys indicating a “remarkable increase” in baptised Catholics on the continent.
The tour begins in Algeria, a non-Catholic country chosen for its deep personal significance to Pope Leo, as it is the birthplace of St. Augustine. Pope Leo XIV is the first pontiff from the order that follows Augustine’s teachings, and ideas such as community and humility have shaped his leadership. In Algiers, Reuters reported that Pope Leo told political leaders he had travelled to Africa “as a witness to the peace and hope that the world so ardently desires,” while also condemning “continuous violations of international law and neocolonial tendencies.”
During the visit, Pope Leo will emphasize dialogue with the Islamic world, including stops at the Great Mosque of Algiers and the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, a pilgrimage site for both Muslims and Christians. However, rights groups have raised concerns over Algeria’s treatment of religious minorities, citing past imprisonments of Christians and Ahmadi Muslims for “unauthorised worship.” The tour then moves to Cameroon, where the Pope will hold a Mass for peace and justice amid a conflict between English-speaking separatists and the francophone-dominated government that has killed thousands and displaced over half a million people.
In Angola, Pope Leo will focus on the impact of decades of civil war, addressing themes of peace and reconstruction, and celebrate Mass with around 200,000 faithful in a country where 40-55% of the population identifies as Catholic. In Equatorial Guinea, where over 70% are Catholic, he is expected to discuss social justice issues under a president who has been in power for nearly 50 years, amid accusations of human rights abuses. The Pope will also visit a psychiatric hospital and a prison, highlighting the Vatican’s prioritization of broader engagement with Africa as a region of faith, resilience, and future growth.
Source: www.bbc.com