Pope Leo XIV Begins 10-Day Africa Tour
Pope Leo XIV left on Monday for a 10-day tour of Africa, during which he will visit Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. The trip aims to draw attention to the continent, where more than one-fifth of the world’s Catholics live.
The Pope flew from Rome to Algiers, where he will meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The tour includes 11 cities, about 18,000 km and 18 flights, making it one of the most logistically demanding papal trips in decades.
According to the Vatican, the Pope plans to highlight Africa and its challenges. He is expected to deliver 25 speeches over 10 days, covering topics such as the exploitation of natural resources, Christian-Muslim dialogue and corruption.
The largest event is expected in Cameroon, where about 600,000 people are expected to attend Mass in Douala. The Pope will speak in several languages, including English, French and Portuguese.
The visit comes shortly after direct criticism from US President Donald Trump that has sparked strong reactions among Catholics.