Pope Leo’s Africa tour underscores continent’s rising weight in global Catholicism

What the report says

Pope Leo XIV during an audience with the media, May 2025 © Wikimedia Commons Pope Leo’s decision to make Africa one of the early destinations of his young papacy signals the continent’s importance in global Catholicism. His April 2026 visit reflects both his personal ties to Africa and the rapid rise of Christianity across the continent. His 10-day itinerary to Algeria, Angola, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea is also