A 10-day trip will test the 70-year-old pope’s stamina and spotlight his mission of reconciliation across diverse African communities.
Rome – on Monday, Pope Leo XIV begins a lengthy African journey that leaves a distinctive personal mark on his pontificate.
From 13 to 23 April he will visit four countries on the continent, where the Catholic Church continues to grow and exert significant influence on education, health care, and mediation in conflicts. The visit will underscore a commitment to dialogue between Christians and Muslims and will strengthen understanding between faiths.
The trip takes place against the backdrop of discussions in the United States about the Middle East: the Pope emphasizes that God cannot be used to justify war, while American defense follows a course of military actions with divine backing. Leo’s visit to Algeria, where the Muslim population predominates, underscores the commitment to dialogue and may serve as a diplomatic contrast to certain political trends.
Africa is a continent where the Catholic Church actively influences educational initiatives, the health system, and peacekeeping processes. According to Vatican sources, Catholics on the continent account for about 20% of the world’s believers.
Leo XIV, who spent many years as a missionary, is well acquainted with Africa. As pope he has also appointed Nigerian priests to senior positions at the Vatican.
The travel route covers Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea; about 18 flights are expected, including two helicopter trips, and more than 11,000 miles (about 18,000 kilometers). Such travel demands look challenging even for a 70-year-old pope, known for an active lifestyle. Despite the diversity of the countries, the common thread of the journey is Leo as a builder of peace and reconciliation.
Stages of the journey and context
“The pope’s trip to Africa offers a unique opportunity to listen to African Catholics and see the reality of their daily lives,” said Father Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, a Nigerian Jesuit who led the African community of the order between 2017 and 2023 and now works at Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California.
The first stop will be Algeria, where Leo will become the first pope to set foot on this territory. In a country with a history of distrust toward Western culture and Christianity tied to France’s colonial past, the Catholic population numbers about 8,000. Christians there often face difficulties.
The pope’s visit is intended to support the Algerian Catholic Church and underscore the country’s ancient Christian roots, as well as its close cooperation with the Muslim community.
«(In Algeria) Christianity still bears memories of an oppressed past»
– Father Martin McGee
“Pope Leo also seeks to strengthen interreligious relations. Since Algeria’s independence in 1962, the remaining Catholic community continues to work toward lowering barriers between Christians and Muslims,” he added.
Bishop Diego Sarrio-Cucarella, heading the Diocese of Lagouat in Algeria, noted that the church here is not «numerical or visible», but is «a church of presence – steadfast and prudent».
«In a world where fear and misunderstanding between religions and cultures often prevail, our experience shows that another path is possible»
– Bishop Diego Sarrio-Cucarella
“Algerian society has a strong sense of hospitality, and many will see in him not an outsider leader, but a man of peace – a brother who seeks peace with his brothers,” adds Orobator, recalling Saint Augustine of Hippo as a source of inspiration for the Augustinian order to which Leo belongs.
After the African portion of the journey, Leo will spend a significant amount of time outside the Vatican – his longest absence since his election, and it will bring him closer to his past missions and service in Latin America. It is also planned to mark April 21 in Equatorial Guinea the anniversary of Benedict XVI’s death, the predecessor of Francis, which gives his mission special meaning focused on serving the poor.
The program in Equatorial Guinea includes visits to a prison and an ocean-front memorial dedicated to the victims of the 2021 explosions. The government emphasizes transparency of investigations and the priority of human rights.
Since his election, Leo has aimed to be a leader who unites people. His African journey is meant to reflect this mission in the continent’s reality and to serve dialogue, peace, and support for those in need.
Thus, Leo XIV continues to lead the Church toward peace, dialogue, and serving those in need.