Angola prepares for Pope Leo XIV visit as African tour continues
Pope Leo XIV is set to visit Angola from April 18 to 20 as part of his ongoing African tour, with final preparations now underway across the country.
After stops in Algeria and Cameroon, the pontiff’s visit to Angola is expected to focus on key social issues, including corruption and inequality, while also strengthening the Catholic Church’s connection with local communities.
Father Correia Hilario, an Angolan priest, said the country is ready to warmly استقبال the Pope and celebrate both its peace and independence milestones. He emphasised the importance of strong community participation during what will be the third papal visit to Angola.
With a population of around 20 million people, about 95% of Angolans identify as Christian, and more than half are Catholic. The visit is therefore seen as both spiritually significant and nationally symbolic.
In the capital, Luanda, the Pope will meet members of the diplomatic corps before travelling by helicopter to Muxima to visit the sanctuary of Our Lady of Conception, one of the country’s most important religious sites.
He is also scheduled to visit Saurimo, where he will tour a retirement home, highlighting the Church’s commitment to social care.
The Angola stop will be followed by a visit to Equatorial Guinea, marking the final leg of his African tour.
Since his election in May 2025, Pope Leo XIV has continued an active travel schedule, with previous visits to Turkey, Lebanon, and Monaco, and plans to visit Spain later this year.
