Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on his first major international tour since assuming the papacy, with an 11-day visit to Africa that will include stops in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
The trip, scheduled to begin on Monday, marks a significant milestone in the pontiff’s global outreach, coming after earlier visits to Turkey, Lebanon and Monaco.
According to the Vatican, the journey will span more than 18,000 kilometres across the continent, during which the Pope is expected to address a wide range of issues, including interfaith dialogue, peacebuilding, inequality and human rights.
The tour will begin in Algeria, where Pope Leo XIV is expected to engage with both political and religious leaders, underscoring efforts to strengthen dialogue between Christianity and Islam.
The visit is also seen as part of a broader effort by the pontiff to draw global attention to Africa’s challenges and opportunities, particularly given the continent’s growing importance to the Catholic Church.
Church officials say the trip reflects the Pope’s intention to prioritise regions often overlooked on the global stage. One Vatican official noted that the visit is aimed at ensuring that “Africa is not forgotten by countries and people caught up in their own concerns.”
During the tour, Pope Leo XIV is expected to hold meetings with government officials, religious leaders and local communities, while also participating in public masses and peace engagements across the four countries.
The visit highlights Africa’s strategic and spiritual significance to the Vatican, as well as the Pope’s commitment to fostering unity, dialogue and development across diverse regions.
