Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on his first major tour of Africa this April, in a visit expected to combine prayer, diplomacy, and powerful calls for peace, justice, and equality across the continent.
The Catholic leader will visit four nations — Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea — where he is scheduled to deliver seven masses and 11 major speeches during the multi-day trip.
The tour kicks off on April 13 in Algiers, where the pope will meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and celebrate mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa. The visit marks a historic moment, as he becomes the first pope to step foot in the North African nation.
In Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV will meet long-serving leader Paul Biya and travel to Bamenda, a region affected by a decade-long separatist crisis. There, he is expected to make a strong appeal for peace and reconciliation.
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The Angola leg of the trip will spotlight social justice issues such as corruption, inequality, and resource conflicts. While in Luanda, the pope will meet with diplomats and visit religious and humanitarian institutions.
The tour will conclude in Equatorial Guinea, with visits to Malabo, Mongomo, and Bata. His itinerary includes meetings with clergy, a visit to a technology school, and prayers at a memorial honoring victims of a 2021 explosion.
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This marks his third international trip since his election in 2025, highlighting the Vatican’s growing focus on Africa — a region central to conversations on interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding, and social inequality.
