Pope Leo XIV will visit four African nations in April, including Algeria, marking the first time a pope will travel to the North African Muslim nation, the Vatican announced Thursday.
The visit to Algeria, scheduled from April 13 to 15, will include stops in Algiers and Annaba. The trip is highly symbolic as Algeria is the birthplace of the fifth-century saint St Augustine, and Pope Leo belongs to the Augustinian order, founded in the 13th century. The visit is expected to focus on interfaith dialogue, coming thirty years after the ing of seven French Trappist monks during the 1990s civil war.
After Algeria, Pope Leo will travel to Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. In Cameroon, he will visit Yaounde, Bamenda and Douala from April 15 to 18, in Angola he will travel to Luanda, Muxima and Saurimo from April 18 to 21, and in Equatorial Guinea he will visit Malabo, Mongomo and Bata from April 21 to 23. The pontiff is expected to appeal for peace and dialogue in regions affected by ongoing separatist conflicts.
Before his African tour, Pope Leo will visit Monaco on March 28, marking the first papal visit to the city state in modern times. He will also travel to Spain from June 6 to 12, visiting Madrid, Barcelona to inaugurate the new Sagrada Familia Basilica tower, and the Canary Islands, including Tenerife and Gran Canaria, highlighting his advocacy for migrants.
The Vatican described the series of trips as opportunities to promote dialogue, peace, and shared responsibility while commemorating historical and spiritual milestones across Europe and Africa.
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