The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will undertake his first pastoral journey to Africa from April 13 to 23, visiting four nations across the continent as part of his 2026 travel agenda.
VATICAN CITY — 2026-02-25
Updated: 12:45 GMT
The Holy See Press Office has announced that Pope Leo XIV will undertake his first pastoral visit to the African continent as pontiff in April, according to Vatican statements. The journey is scheduled from April 13 to 23 and will include stops in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, the Vatican said.
The announcement details that Pope Leo’s apostolic tour will begin in Algeria, where he will visit Algiers and Annaba from April 13 to 15. He will then travel to Cameroon from April 15 to 18, and to Angola from April 18 to 21. The final leg will take him to Equatorial Guinea from April 21 to 23, according to the Holy See.
The Vatican described the itinerary as an 11-day pastoral visit, confirming that it is the first such trip to Africa since Pope Leo’s election as leader of the Catholic Church in May 2025.
Catholic leaders in the host countries have responded positively to the announcement. Members of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon described the forthcoming visit as an expression of the universal Church’s solidarity and connection with African communities.
Religious and civil authorities across the destinations also conveyed gratitude and enthusiasm following the Vatican’s formal schedule release, highlighting the significance of the visit for local Catholic populations.
The pastoral visit follows an earlier announcement of a series of international trips by Pope Leo, including a one-day visit to Monaco in March and a planned tour of Spain in June.
Africa is home to a rapidly growing share of the global Catholic community, and Vatican sources note that the continent accounts for a significant portion of worldwide adherents.
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