The Vatican has released the official itinerary for the first apostolic journey of Pope Leo XIV to Africa, scheduled for April 13–23. The visit will take the Holy Father to four countries — Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea — marking his first trip to the continent since his election to the papacy in May 2025.
The 11-day visit combines pastoral encounters with Catholic communities, meetings with political leaders and civil society, and symbolic gestures of interreligious dialogue and reconciliation.
The itinerary, officially released on Monday, March 16, reflects a focus on peace, youth engagement, and the Church’s social mission across Africa.
Opening leg in Algeria
The pope’s journey is to begin on Monday, April 13, when he departs Rome for Algiers. Upon arrival at Houari Boumédiène International Airport, he is to be welcomed during an official ceremony before visiting the Maqam Echahid Martyrs’ Monument, a national memorial honoring those who died in Algeria’s struggle for independence.
The pontiff is to then pay a courtesy visit to the president of Algeria at the presidential palace and later address representatives of government, civil society, and the diplomatic corps at the Djamaa el Djazair Conference Center.
In a gesture highlighting the importance of interreligious dialogue in the Muslim-majority country, Pope Leo XIV is to visit the Great Mosque of Algiers, one of the largest mosques in the world. The day is to conclude with a meeting with members of the local Catholic community at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa.
On Tuesday, April 14, the American-born member of the Order of St. Augustine is to travel to Annaba, where he is to visit the historic archaeological site of Hippo Regius, closely associated with St. Augustine of Hippo.
He is also scheduled to meet the elderly residents cared for by the Little Sisters of the Poor before celebrating Mass at the Basilica of St. Augustine.
Cameroon: Emphasis on peace and youth
The second stage of the apostolic journey is to begin on Wednesday, April 15, with the pope’s arrival in Yaoundé, the capital city of Cameroon. After a welcome ceremony, he is to meet the country’s president and address authorities, civil society leaders, and diplomats.
Pope Leo XIV is also to visit the Ngul Zamba Orphanage and meet privately with members of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC).
During his time in Cameroon, the Holy Father is expected to place particular emphasis on reconciliation and social healing. On Thursday, April 16, he is to travel to Bamenda, where he is scheduled to hold a “Meeting for Peace” with the local community at St. Joseph’s Cathedral and celebrate Mass at Bamenda International Airport.
The papal visit to Bamenda carries symbolic significance given the region’s experience of political and social tensions in recent years.
On Friday, April 17, the pontiff is to visit Douala, where he is scheduled to preside over a large Eucharistic celebration at Japoma Stadium. The program also includes a private visit to St. Paul Catholic Hospital and a dialogue with university students and professors at the Catholic University of Central Africa.
Before leaving the central African nation to travel to the southern African nation of Angola on Saturday, April 18, the pope is to celebrate a final Mass in Yaoundé with the faithful gathered at Yaoundé-Ville Airport.
Angola: Marian devotion and pastoral encounters
The Holy Father is scheduled to arrive in Luanda, the capital city of Angola, on the afternoon of April 18, where he is to meet the country’s president and address government authorities and representatives of civil society.
The following day, Sunday, April 19, the Holy Father is to celebrate Mass in the Kilamba district of Luanda before traveling by helicopter to the Marian shrine of Mama Muxima. There, he is to lead the recitation of the rosary with pilgrims gathered at one of Angola’s most significant places of Catholic devotion.
On Monday, April 20, Pope Leo XIV is to visit Saurimo in Angola’s eastern region. His program includes a visit to a nursing home and the celebration of Mass in the Saurimo esplanade.
Later that day in Luanda, the Holy Father is scheduled to meet Catholic bishops, priests, women and men religious, and pastoral workers at Our Lady of Fátima Parish.
Final stage in Equatorial Guinea
The final leg of the apostolic journey will take the Holy Father to Malabo on Tuesday, April 21. Following the official welcome ceremony, he is to meet the president of Equatorial Guinea and address political leaders, civil society representatives, and the diplomatic corps.
In the afternoon, Leo is to engage with academics and artists during a meeting with representatives of the world of culture at the León XIV Campus of the National University. The day is also to include a pastoral visit to patients and staff at the Jean Pierre Olie Psychiatric Hospital.
On Wednesday, April 22, the pope is to travel to Mongomo to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception before visiting the Pope Francis Technology School.
Later in the day, he is to continue to Bata, where he is scheduled to visit a prison, pray at a memorial dedicated to victims of the March 7, 2021, explosion, and meet young people and families at Bata Stadium.
Concluding Mass and return to Rome
The apostolic journey to Africa is to conclude on Thursday, April 23, with a final Mass celebrated by the pope at Malabo Stadium.
Following the farewell ceremony at Malabo International Airport, the Holy Father is to depart for Rome, arriving later that evening at Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport.
Preparations and mottos
The four nations have intensified preparations ahead of the Holy Father’s arrival in their respective nations, releasing logos, mottos, and prayers ahead of the pastoral visit.
In Algeria, the Holy Father is to visit as an apostle of peace. The motto guiding the visit is “As-Salam Alaykum” (“Peace be with you”). Catholic bishops in Algeria also released an official prayer ahead of the papal visit.
The North African nation of Algeria is a country where Christianity has ancient roots but where Catholics today constitute a statistically negligible minority. It is an African country, where the memory of martyrs is recent. Interreligious coexistence in Algeria is both a theological imperative and a civic necessity.
Cameroon presents a different ecclesial landscape. The Catholic Church in Cameroon is demographically significant, institutionally entrenched, socially influential, and politically attentive.
The people of God in Cameroon are expected to welcome Pope Leo XIV as a messenger of peace. “May they all be one,” taken from the Gospel of John 17:21, is the motto of the visit that Catholic Bishops in Cameroon unveiled alongside the logo and prayer.
In Angola, Pope Leo XIV is to visit as a pilgrim of hope. “Pope Leo XIV, Pilgrim of Hope, Reconciliation, and Peace” is the motto of the visit announced by Catholic bishops in the country, alongside the logo and prayer.
Equatorial Guinea is expected to welcome Pope Leo XIV as light that brings hope to the nation. The motto “Christ, Light of Equatorial Guinea, Towards a Future of Hope” unveiled by Catholic bishops encapsulates the identity and mission of the local Church.
More than four decades after the last papal visit, the announcement, which the Press Department of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) published on Jan. 23, generated anticipation in a nation where Catholicism is deeply woven into culture, language, and public life.
Africa’s only Spanish-speaking country, Equatorial Guinea, occupies a singular place on the continent — linguistically, historically, and ecclesiastically.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa. It has been adapted by EWTN News English.
Vatican releases itinerary for Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic journey to Africa – #Catholic –
The Vatican has released the official itinerary for the first apostolic journey of Pope Leo XIV to Africa, scheduled for April 13–23. The visit will take the Holy Father to four countries — Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea — marking his first trip to the continent since his election to the papacy in May 2025.
The 11-day visit combines pastoral encounters with Catholic communities, meetings with political leaders and civil society, and symbolic gestures of interreligious dialogue and reconciliation.
The itinerary, officially released on Monday, March 16, reflects a focus on peace, youth engagement, and the Church’s social mission across Africa.
Opening leg in Algeria
The pope’s journey is to begin on Monday, April 13, when he departs Rome for Algiers. Upon arrival at Houari Boumédiène International Airport, he is to be welcomed during an official ceremony before visiting the Maqam Echahid Martyrs’ Monument, a national memorial honoring those who died in Algeria’s struggle for independence.
The pontiff is to then pay a courtesy visit to the president of Algeria at the presidential palace and later address representatives of government, civil society, and the diplomatic corps at the Djamaa el Djazair Conference Center.
In a gesture highlighting the importance of interreligious dialogue in the Muslim-majority country, Pope Leo XIV is to visit the Great Mosque of Algiers, one of the largest mosques in the world. The day is to conclude with a meeting with members of the local Catholic community at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa.
On Tuesday, April 14, the American-born member of the Order of St. Augustine is to travel to Annaba, where he is to visit the historic archaeological site of Hippo Regius, closely associated with St. Augustine of Hippo.
He is also scheduled to meet the elderly residents cared for by the Little Sisters of the Poor before celebrating Mass at the Basilica of St. Augustine.
Cameroon: Emphasis on peace and youth
The second stage of the apostolic journey is to begin on Wednesday, April 15, with the pope’s arrival in Yaoundé, the capital city of Cameroon. After a welcome ceremony, he is to meet the country’s president and address authorities, civil society leaders, and diplomats.
Pope Leo XIV is also to visit the Ngul Zamba Orphanage and meet privately with members of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC).
During his time in Cameroon, the Holy Father is expected to place particular emphasis on reconciliation and social healing. On Thursday, April 16, he is to travel to Bamenda, where he is scheduled to hold a “Meeting for Peace” with the local community at St. Joseph’s Cathedral and celebrate Mass at Bamenda International Airport.
The papal visit to Bamenda carries symbolic significance given the region’s experience of political and social tensions in recent years.
On Friday, April 17, the pontiff is to visit Douala, where he is scheduled to preside over a large Eucharistic celebration at Japoma Stadium. The program also includes a private visit to St. Paul Catholic Hospital and a dialogue with university students and professors at the Catholic University of Central Africa.
Before leaving the central African nation to travel to the southern African nation of Angola on Saturday, April 18, the pope is to celebrate a final Mass in Yaoundé with the faithful gathered at Yaoundé-Ville Airport.
Angola: Marian devotion and pastoral encounters
The Holy Father is scheduled to arrive in Luanda, the capital city of Angola, on the afternoon of April 18, where he is to meet the country’s president and address government authorities and representatives of civil society.
The following day, Sunday, April 19, the Holy Father is to celebrate Mass in the Kilamba district of Luanda before traveling by helicopter to the Marian shrine of Mama Muxima. There, he is to lead the recitation of the rosary with pilgrims gathered at one of Angola’s most significant places of Catholic devotion.
On Monday, April 20, Pope Leo XIV is to visit Saurimo in Angola’s eastern region. His program includes a visit to a nursing home and the celebration of Mass in the Saurimo esplanade.
Later that day in Luanda, the Holy Father is scheduled to meet Catholic bishops, priests, women and men religious, and pastoral workers at Our Lady of Fátima Parish.
Final stage in Equatorial Guinea
The final leg of the apostolic journey will take the Holy Father to Malabo on Tuesday, April 21. Following the official welcome ceremony, he is to meet the president of Equatorial Guinea and address political leaders, civil society representatives, and the diplomatic corps.
In the afternoon, Leo is to engage with academics and artists during a meeting with representatives of the world of culture at the León XIV Campus of the National University. The day is also to include a pastoral visit to patients and staff at the Jean Pierre Olie Psychiatric Hospital.
On Wednesday, April 22, the pope is to travel to Mongomo to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception before visiting the Pope Francis Technology School.
Later in the day, he is to continue to Bata, where he is scheduled to visit a prison, pray at a memorial dedicated to victims of the March 7, 2021, explosion, and meet young people and families at Bata Stadium.
Concluding Mass and return to Rome
The apostolic journey to Africa is to conclude on Thursday, April 23, with a final Mass celebrated by the pope at Malabo Stadium.
Following the farewell ceremony at Malabo International Airport, the Holy Father is to depart for Rome, arriving later that evening at Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport.
Preparations and mottos
The four nations have intensified preparations ahead of the Holy Father’s arrival in their respective nations, releasing logos, mottos, and prayers ahead of the pastoral visit.
In Algeria, the Holy Father is to visit as an apostle of peace. The motto guiding the visit is “As-Salam Alaykum” (“Peace be with you”). Catholic bishops in Algeria also released an official prayer ahead of the papal visit.
The North African nation of Algeria is a country where Christianity has ancient roots but where Catholics today constitute a statistically negligible minority. It is an African country, where the memory of martyrs is recent. Interreligious coexistence in Algeria is both a theological imperative and a civic necessity.
Cameroon presents a different ecclesial landscape. The Catholic Church in Cameroon is demographically significant, institutionally entrenched, socially influential, and politically attentive.
The people of God in Cameroon are expected to welcome Pope Leo XIV as a messenger of peace. “May they all be one,” taken from the Gospel of John 17:21, is the motto of the visit that Catholic Bishops in Cameroon unveiled alongside the logo and prayer.
In Angola, Pope Leo XIV is to visit as a pilgrim of hope. “Pope Leo XIV, Pilgrim of Hope, Reconciliation, and Peace” is the motto of the visit announced by Catholic bishops in the country, alongside the logo and prayer.
Equatorial Guinea is expected to welcome Pope Leo XIV as light that brings hope to the nation. The motto “Christ, Light of Equatorial Guinea, Towards a Future of Hope” unveiled by Catholic bishops encapsulates the identity and mission of the local Church.
More than four decades after the last papal visit, the announcement, which the Press Department of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) published on Jan. 23, generated anticipation in a nation where Catholicism is deeply woven into culture, language, and public life.
Africa’s only Spanish-speaking country, Equatorial Guinea, occupies a singular place on the continent — linguistically, historically, and ecclesiastically.
This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa. It has been adapted by EWTN News English.
The 11-day visit combines pastoral encounters with Catholic communities, meetings with political leaders and civil society, and symbolic gestures of interreligious dialogue and reconciliation.
