Pope Leo XIV to Tour Four African Nations in April

Pope Leo XIV is set to begin a 10-day pastoral trip to Africa on 13 April, according to the Vatican, with planned stops in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.

The visit will be his first official journey to the continent since he became head of the Catholic Church. In Cameroon, his schedule is expected to include Yaounde, Douala and Bamenda, a city in the conflict-affected Northwest region.

Algeria will make history as a first-time papal destination. Vatican officials say the trip reflects the Pope’s long-standing interest in interfaith engagement and his connection to St Augustine of Hippo, who was born in what is now Algeria.

Church leaders in Africa have welcomed the visit, saying it could strengthen hope in communities facing hardship and insecurity. The tour also underscores Africa’s rising significance in global Catholicism, with roughly one-fifth of the world’s Catholics living on the continent.

The Vatican has not yet published the full programme, but reports indicate additional stops in Annaba, Luanda, Muxima, Saurimo, Malabo, Mongomo and Bata between 13 and 23 April.