Pope Leo is set to visit four African countries during his first significant overseas journey of 2026

The Vatican announced on Wednesday that Pope Leo will visit four countries in Africa from April 13 to 23. This marks the pontiff’s first significant overseas trip in 2026 to the continent where the Catholic Church is experiencing rapid growth.

The pope is scheduled for a one-day visit to Monaco on March 28, as announced by the Vatican. Additionally, he will be in Spain from June 6 to June 12.

In Africa, Leo plans to visit Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon. He is anticipated to attract significant audiences, encourage global leaders to back development in the region, and emphasize initiatives in Catholic-Muslim dialogue.

VISIT THE VATICAN’S COMMITMENT TO AFRICA

Leo, who was elected in May to take over from the late Pope Francis as the leader of the 1.4-billion-member Church, has made just one overseas trip to date, traveling to Turkey and Lebanon in November and December on a visit that was initially arranged for Francis.

Vatican officials and African Church leaders assert that the forthcoming papal tour in Africa underscores the Church’s commitment to the continent. “Pope Leo’s visit will serve as a reminder to the world that Africa is significant and that the vitality of the church is central to a flourishing global Church,” stated Reverend Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, a Jesuit from Nigeria who led his order’s communities throughout Africa from 2017 to 2023.

According to Vatican statistics, approximately 20% of the global Catholic population resides on the continent.

During the trip to Spain, Leo is set to visit the Canary Islands, a significant entry point for migrants attempting to reach Europe.

Leo will be the first pope to visit Algeria.

In 2023, the most recent papal visit to Africa took place, with Francis traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Pope Benedict XVI was the most recent pope to travel to Angola and Cameroon, in 2009. In 1982, John Paul II became the last pope to visit Equatorial Guinea.

Algeria, a predominantly Muslim nation with a small Catholic community among its 47 million residents, has yet to welcome a papal visit.

Leo, belonging to the Augustinian religious order, has a keen interest in exploring the country. St. Augustine of Hippo, a prominent figure in the early Christian Church during the fourth century, hailed from a region that is now located in Algeria.

According to Orobator, dean of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in California, the tour will “shine the spotlight on countries in Africa that have experienced high religious growth but struggled politically and economically.”

In 2026, the pope is anticipated to visit Peru, a country where he dedicated decades of service as a missionary and bishop. Local bishops indicated that the visit is expected to take place in November.