Pope Leo XIV denounced the “scourge of corruption” during a vast open-air Mass attended by around 100,000 worshippers near Angola’s capital on Sunday.
Pope Leo XIV addressed crowds gathered in Kilamba, urging an end to corruption and division in a nation still marked by deep inequality. His words carried across a sea of pilgrims who had waited overnight in anticipation.
The pontiff arrived in Angola on Saturday as part of a four-nation African tour, where he has sharply criticised the exploitation of the continent’s natural wealth. His visit has also drawn global attention after a public exchange with US President Donald Trump.
Authorities said nearly 100,000 people attended the Mass, some sleeping outdoors before the event. The pope moved through the crowd in his popemobile before delivering a message of reconciliation and renewal.
“We can and want to build a country where old divisions are overcome,” he said, calling for corruption to be “healed by a new culture of justice and sharing.”
Angola remains scarred by a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002, despite its vast oil and diamond resources. Yet around one-third of its 36.6 million people live in poverty, according to the World Bank.
Residents and clergy urged accountability from leaders, saying wealth remains unevenly distributed despite national riches.
At the Muxima shrine, about 50,000 worshippers gathered for prayers as the pope called for a world free from war, injustice, and poverty. The historic site, tied to Angola’s colonial past, added a solemn weight to the visit.
Pope Leo is expected to continue his African tour, travelling east to Saurimo before ending his journey in Equatorial Guinea.