Pope Leo XIV is planning a trip to Africa, including a stop in Angola, a Vatican representative has announced in the capital, Luanda. The US-born pontiff, elected last May, hopes the journey will also take him to Algeria later this year.
If confirmed, the visit would mark the first papal trip to Africa since Pope Francis travelled to Congo and South Sudan in 2023. Apostolic Nuncio Kryspin Dubiel told reporters the Pope intends to visit the continent, with Angola clearly included on the itinerary.
He said details on dates and routes remain undecided, as Vatican officials continue shaping the programme for the historic journey. “The plan is in preparation,” Dubiel said, promising that final arrangements would be announced once discussions are complete.
The last pope to set foot in Angola was Benedict XVI, who visited the southern African nation in March 2009. Angola, independent from Portugal since 1975, remains deeply shaped by Christianity, with Catholics forming the largest religious community.
According to the 2024 census, about 44 percent of Angolans are Catholic, while roughly 35 percent identify as Protestant. For many believers, the prospect of a papal visit stirs anticipation, carrying hopes of unity, renewal, and a renewed global spotlight.