Pope Leo XIV will make a 10-day apostolic journey to four African countries from April 13 to 23, 2026, in his first major overseas trip of the year and a key focus on the continent's fast-growing Catholic communities.
The Vatican confirmed stops in Algeria (Algiers and Annaba), Cameroon (Yaoundé, Bamenda, and Douala), Angola (Luanda, Muxima, and Saurimo), and Equatorial Guinea (Malabo, Mongomo, and Bata).
This marks the first-ever papal visit to Algeria, a Muslim-majority nation with historical ties to St. Augustine of Hippo, a key figure for the Pope's Augustinian roots.
The itinerary responds to invitations from heads of state and local Church leaders. Pope Leo is expected to emphasize interfaith dialogue, especially Catholic-Muslim relations—call for global support of Africa's development, and celebrate the Church's vibrant presence, where Catholics now represent about 20% of the worldwide total with the highest growth rates.
Nigeria, home to Africa's largest population and one of its biggest Catholic communities, is notably absent from the schedule. No official explanation has been provided, though the chosen destinations highlight regions with strong religious dynamism alongside various challenges.
The Africa tour fits into a busy 2026 travel plan for the pontiff, the first American-born pope (elected as Robert Francis Prevost in May 2025). It follows a March 28 day trip to Monaco and precedes a June visit to Spain, including the Canary Islands.
Prior papal visits include Pope Benedict XVI to Angola and Cameroon in 2009, and Pope John Paul II to Equatorial Guinea in 1982. The last extensive papal tour in Africa was Pope Francis's 2023 trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com