Pope Leo XIV to make historic Africa tour of four nations in April

Papal Visit to Africa: April 13-23, 2026

The Vatican has announced that Pope Leo XIV will conduct an overseas visit to Africa from April 13 to April 23, 2026. The itinerary includes stops in Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon.

In Algeria, Pope Leo XIV will visit Algiers and Annaba, the latter being the ancient site of Hippo where St. Augustine, a key figure in Church history, lived and worked in the fourth century. The visit aims to enhance Catholic-Muslim dialogue in a nation with a predominantly Muslim population and a small Catholic community.

Growth of the Catholic Church in Africa

Currently, about 20 percent of the global Catholic population of 1.4 billion resides in Africa, making it the fastest-growing region for the Church. The visit is expected to highlight the importance of Africa in the global Catholic community.

Besides the African tour, Pope Leo XIV will visit Monaco on March 28 and Spain from June 6 to June 12. The Spanish visit will include a stop at the Canary Islands, a significant migration route.

Based on reporting by Africanews.