Pope Leo heads to Africa on ambitious tour to urge help for continent

Pope Leo XIV in Saint Peter square at the Vatican in October
Vatican officials and African Church leaders say the upcoming tour of four African countries is a personal priority for Leo and a sign of the value the church places on the continent, where Catholicism is growing fastest
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VATICAN CITY –
Pope Leo leaves on Monday for a visit to four countries in Africa, in an ambitious tour to urge global leaders to address the needs of the continent where more than a fifth of the world's Catholics live on his first major overseas trip of 2026.Over 10 days through to April 23, Leo will travel nearly 18,000 kilometers to visit 11 cities and towns in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola ​and Equatorial Guinea as part of a whirlwind itinerary that includes 18 flights.The pope is making the visit with a mission "to help turn the ‌world's attention ‌to Africa," said Cardinal Michael Czerny, a senior Vatican official and close adviser to Leo.

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