Pope Leo to tour Africa, Vatican representative says

Pope Leo XIV plans to make a trip to Africa soon, including to Angola, a Vatican representative announced on Tuesday in the Angolan capital, Luanda.

The US-born leader of the world's Catholics, who was elected last May, has said he hopes to go to Algeria this year as part of a trip to the continent.

It would be the first papal visit to Africa since Leo's predecessor, Francis, travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan in early 2023.

"I would like to inform you that the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, intends to travel to the African continent, and that Angola is also on the itinerary for this trip," Apostolic Nuncio Kryspin Dubiel told a news conference.

Details to be communicated soon

"We don't yet have the details about the exact date and the itinerary but they will be communicated as soon as they are set. We are currently preparing the plan and programme for Pope Leo's visit to Africa."

The last pope to visit Angola was Benedict XVI in March 2009.

Angola, a former Portuguese colony, has been independent since 1975. Its population is 44% Catholic and 35% Protestant, according to the 2024 census.