Vatican City — The Holy See Press Office has unveiled a series of upcoming apostolic journeys by Pope Leo XIV, confirming that the pontiff will travel to multiple continents in the coming months. The announcement was shared through church channels, including the Uganda Episcopal Conference social platforms.
Papal Visit to Africa Scheduled for April
Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on an 11-day pastoral visit to Africa from April 13 to April 23, 2026 — his first major trip to the continent since his election as pope in May 2025. The tour will include stops in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
According to Vatican officials, the journey will take him to key cities and diocesan centres in each country. In Algeria, he is expected to visit Algiers and Annaba; in Cameroon, Yaoundé, Bamenda, and Douala; in Angola, Luanda, Muxima, and Saurimo; and in Equatorial Guinea, Malabo, Mongomo, and Bata.
Church leaders and national authorities in these countries have welcomed the visit as an opportunity for spiritual engagement and public solidarity. Preparations are underway in several locations, particularly in Angola and Equatorial Guinea where authorities and bishops are mobilising communities for the pontiff’s arrival.
Additional International Destinations
In addition to Africa, the pope’s travel schedule includes: A one-day visit to Monaco at the end of March, believed to be on March 28, 2026 and a six-day pastoral trip to Spain in June, covering Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands from June 6 to June 12, 2026.
These journeys form part of a broader wave of international engagements as Pope Leo XIV seeks to strengthen ties with Catholic communities around the world.
Significance of the Africa Visit
The African tour holds special significance for the Catholic Church, which has one of its fastest-growing populations on the continent. The visit marks a major pastoral mission early in Leo XIV’s papacy and reflects the Vatican’s emphasis on engaging with diverse cultural and spiritual communities across Africa.
Church officials and episcopal leaders, including those associated with regional bodies such as the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), view the journey as a chance to reinforce the Church’s message of peace, unity and evangelisation in a continent of varied cultures and challenges.
Further details of Pope Leo XIV’s itinerary and specific events during the trips are expected to be released by the Holy See Press Office in the coming weeks.
