Vatican officials have confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will embark on a significant 10-day pastoral journey across four African nations commencing April 13th. This landmark visit will mark the pontiff’s first official trip to the African continent since ascending to leadership of the Catholic Church.
The extensive itinerary includes Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, with detailed stops planned across each nation. The Pope’s schedule will include visits to Algiers and Annaba in Algeria; Yaoundé, Bamenda and Douala in Cameroon; Luanda, Muxima and Saurimo in Angola; and Malabo, Mongomo and Bata in Equatorial Guinea.
This visit carries particular significance as it represents the first papal visit to Algeria, a predominantly Muslim nation. The choice holds personal meaning for Pope Leo, who belongs to the Augustinian religious order and has previously expressed interest in visiting the birthplace of St. Augustine of Hippo. His selection of Cameroon’s Northwest region, specifically the Anglophone city of Bamenda currently experiencing armed conflict, signals a pastoral emphasis on areas experiencing turmoil.
While this marks his first African visit as Pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost (his former title) had extensive prior experience on the continent, having visited Kenya and Tanzania. The journey underscores Africa’s growing importance within the global Catholic community, which now counts approximately 20% of the world’s Catholics among its African congregants.
The visit follows Pope Leo’s first international trip to Turkey and Lebanon in late 2025, where he advocated for Middle Eastern peace and reconciliation. It also continues the tradition of papal engagement with Africa established by his predecessor, Pope Francis, who visited the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in February 2023.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa, previously hinted at this April visit, noting that papal journeys to crisis-affected nations primarily serve to ‘give hope to the people, especially people who are suffering.’ The full official program detailing the Pope’s activities during the April 13-23 tour is expected to be released in the coming weeks.