Monday, April 13th sees Pope Leo XIV embark on an 11-day visit to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea—his first major international tour since becoming pontiff last year.
The U.S.-born pope, who took over as head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics in May 2025, will travel more than 18,000 kilometres across Africa. During the trip, he is expected to address issues including dialogue with Islam, peace efforts, inequality and human rights. He will deliver 11 speeches, preside over seven masses and visit around a dozen locations before returning on April 23rd.
This will be his third trip outside Italy, following visits to Turkey and Lebanon last year, and Monaco in March.
In Algeria (April 13th–15th), Leo will make history as the first pope to visit the North African country. He will meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and visit the Great Mosque of Algiers. He will also pray privately in a chapel dedicated to priests and nuns killed during Algeria’s civil war.
Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, the archbishop of Algiers, said the pope is “a brother who comes to visit his brothers.”
In Cameroon (April 15th–18th), the focus is expected to be peace and reconciliation amid a long-running conflict in the English-speaking northwest. The pope will visit hospitals, schools and charitable organisations and meet President Paul Biya.
In Angola (April 18th–21st), he is expected to speak about inequality and corruption in a country rich in natural resources but affected by poverty. His presence is eagerly awaited by Angolan Catholics, who make up around 44% of the population.
In Equatorial Guinea (April 21st–23rd), many expect him to deliver a message on human rights and social justice. Some 80% of the two million inhabitants are Catholic, but Jean-Paul II is the only pope to have visited, almost half a century ago.
