Pope Leo XIV will make his first major overseas trip in 2026 to Africa from April 13 to 23, visiting Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon. Notably, he will skip Nigeria dialogue initiatives.
Reverend Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, a Nigerian Jesuit who led communities across Africa from 2017–2023, said the visit underscores Africa’s importance to the global Church, noting that about 20% of the world’s Catholics live on the continent.
Pope Leo’s itinerary also includes a one-day visit to Monaco on March 28 and a Spain visit from June 6–12. Previous papal visits to Africa include Pope Francis in 2023 (Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan), Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 (Angola and Cameroon), and John Paul II in 1982 (Equatorial Guinea).
The visit to Algeria is especially significant, as the country has never hosted a papal visit, despite its connection to St. Augustine of Hippo, a major fourth-century Christian figure. The tour aims to highlight countries with growing Catholic populations that continue to face political and economic challenges.
