Pope Leo XIV departed Monday for Algeria, the first stop on a 10-day trip to Africa that marks the third international journey of his pontificate.
The pope's April 13–23 visit will also include stops in Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, making it the longest trip of his pontificate so far. After earlier visits to Turkey and Lebanon and a brief trip to the Principality of Monaco, Leo is now traveling to four African nations with distinct histories, cultures, and pastoral realities.
The first stop is Algeria, where Leo will be from April 13–15. The visit is expected to focus especially on encounter and fraternity. Catholics in Algeria number only a few thousand in a country of about 48 million Muslims.
For the first time, a pope is visiting the land of St. Augustine — a fitting destination for Leo XIV, who described himself on May 8, when he first appeared as pope from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, as "a son of St. Augustine."
From Algeria, Leo will travel April 15 to Cameroon, where he will remain until April 18. His itinerary there includes the capital, Yaoundé, as well as Douala, the country's economic center, and Bamenda, which lies at the heart of the so-called Anglophone conflict. Douala and Bamenda are also considered strongholds of political opposition to the government of President Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982.
Leo XIV will be the third pope to visit Cameroon, after St. John Paul II, who traveled there in 1985 and 1995, and Benedict XVI, who visited in 2009.
Like Benedict XVI during that 2009 trip, Leo will also visit Angola. He is scheduled to be in Luanda, Muxima, and Saurimo from April 18–21.
The pope's final stop will be Equatorial Guinea, where he will be from April 21–23 to mark the 170th anniversary of the country's evangelization.
The flight to Algeria was expected to last about two hours, with the papal plane crossing over Italy and France before arriving in Algiers.
Before his departure, Leo sent a telegram to Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
"At the moment when I am preparing to make the apostolic journey to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea," the pope wrote, "moved by the lively desire to meet the brothers and sisters in the faith and the inhabitants of those dear nations, I am pleased to address to you, Mr. President, the expression of my respectful greeting, which I accompany with fervent prayers for the good and prosperity of the entire Italian people."
This story was originally published by ACI Stampa, EWTN News' Italian-language partner agency. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
