By Oluwakemi Kindness
Pope Leo XIV will on Monday begin an 11-day visit to four African countries—Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea—marking his first major international trip since becoming head of the Catholic Church last year.
The 70-year-old pontiff is expected to address key global and regional issues, including interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding, inequality and human rights, as he travels more than 18,000 kilometres across the continent.
Since assuming leadership of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics in May, Pope Leo XIV has remained under global scrutiny, with this trip coming amid heightened tensions linked to the Middle East conflict and global economic uncertainty.
He is scheduled to deliver 11 speeches, celebrate seven masses and visit at least a dozen locations before the tour concludes on April 23.
Algeria (April 13–15): Historic First Visit
In a historic move, Pope Leo XIV will become the first pontiff to visit Algeria, where Islam is the state religion.
During his stay, he will visit the Great Mosque of Algiers and meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. He is also expected to meet members of the Augustinian order in Annaba, linked to early Christian theologian Saint Augustine.
The pope will also pray privately in honour of 19 clergy members killed during the Algerian civil war between 1992 and 2002.
Cameroon (April 15–18): Message of Peace
Peace and reconciliation will dominate the pope’s visit to Cameroon, where a prolonged conflict continues in the English-speaking northwest region.
A major highlight will be a mass in Bamenda—an epicentre of the unrest—held under tight security. The Catholic Church has played a mediation role in the crisis.
Pope Leo XIV is also scheduled to meet President Paul Biya and visit Church-run schools, hospitals and charities.
-Angola (April 18–21): Inequality and Resources
In Angola, the pope is expected to focus on economic justice in a resource-rich country still battling poverty and the legacy of civil war.
His message is likely to centre on fair distribution of wealth, anti-corruption efforts and social inclusion—issues that resonate strongly with many Angolans.
Equatorial Guinea (April 21–23): Delicate Diplomacy
The final leg of the tour will take the pope to Equatorial Guinea, where President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has ruled since 1979.
Observers say the visit will require careful diplomacy, as Pope Leo XIV balances support for the country’s largely Catholic population with concerns about governance and human rights.
His visit follows that of Pope John Paul II, the only other pope to have travelled to the country.
