Vatican Publishes Full Schedule for Pope Leo XIV’s April Apostolic Journey Across Four African Nations
The Vatican has released the official program for Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming Apostolic Journey to Africa, outlining an extensive pastoral visit that will take place from April 13 to April 23, 2026. The journey will bring the Pope to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, marking his third international trip outside Italy since the beginning of his pontificate. Vatican officials say the visit reflects the growing importance of Africa within the global Catholic community and highlights the Church’s commitment to dialogue, peace, and pastoral engagement across the continent. Over the course of eleven days the Pope will visit eleven cities and deliver multiple addresses, homilies, and greetings to religious leaders, civil authorities, and local communities.
The journey will begin in Algeria on April 13 when Pope Leo XIV arrives in the capital city of Algiers. Shortly after landing, the Pope will visit the Maqam Echahid Martyrs Monument, a landmark commemorating Algeria’s struggle for independence. During his stay in the country he will meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the Presidential Palace and address representatives of civil society and the diplomatic corps. The visit will also include a stop at the Great Mosque of Algiers, one of the largest mosques in the world, reflecting the Vatican’s ongoing emphasis on interreligious dialogue. Later in the day the Pope will meet the local Catholic community at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa.
On April 14 the Pope will travel to the historic city of Annaba, once known as Hippo, where Saint Augustine served as bishop in the early centuries of Christianity. During the visit Pope Leo will tour the archaeological site associated with Saint Augustine and meet residents at a nursing home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. He will also hold a private meeting with members of the Augustinian religious community before celebrating Mass at the Basilica of Saint Augustine. At the end of the day he will return to Algiers, completing the first stage of the journey before departing the following day for Cameroon.
The second leg of the visit will begin on April 15 in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon. There the Pope will meet President Paul Barthelemy Biya and deliver an address to national authorities and diplomatic representatives. His schedule includes a visit to the Ngul Zamba Orphanage and a private meeting with the bishops of Cameroon at the headquarters of their episcopal conference. On the following day he will travel to Bamenda in the northwest of the country where he will participate in a gathering for peace with local communities at Saint Joseph Cathedral before celebrating Mass at the city’s international airport.
Pope Leo will then continue his visit across Cameroon with a trip to the coastal city of Douala on April 17 where he will celebrate Mass at Japoma Stadium before visiting Saint Paul Catholic Hospital. After returning to Yaounde he will meet with university students and professors at the Catholic University of Central Africa, addressing issues related to education and the role of young people in society. The final event in Cameroon will take place on April 18 with a large outdoor Mass at Yaounde Ville Airport before the Pope departs for Angola to begin the third stage of the African journey.
Upon arrival in Luanda, the capital of Angola, Pope Leo XIV will meet President Joao Lourenco and address government authorities, civil society representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps. He will also hold a private meeting with Angolan bishops before celebrating Mass the following day in the nearby city of Kilamba. Later he will travel by helicopter to the Marian shrine of Muxima where he will pray the Rosary and deliver an address to pilgrims gathered at the sanctuary. On April 20 the Pope will fly to the northeastern city of Saurimo to visit a nursing home and celebrate Mass before returning to Luanda to meet clergy, religious communities, and pastoral workers.
The final stage of the Apostolic Journey will take place in Equatorial Guinea beginning on April 21 when the Pope arrives in Malabo. There he will meet President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and address political leaders, members of civil society, and diplomats. His schedule also includes a meeting with cultural representatives at the national university and a visit to the Jean Pierre Olie Psychiatric Hospital. On April 22 the Pope will travel to the town of Mongomo where he will celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and visit a technology school before continuing to the city of Bata.
During his visit to Bata the Pope will meet prisoners at a local prison and pray at a memorial dedicated to victims of the 2021 military base explosions that caused significant loss of life. Later he will gather with young people and families at the city stadium to deliver an address before returning to Malabo. The Apostolic Journey will conclude on April 23 with a final Mass celebrated at the Malabo stadium before Pope Leo XIV departs for Rome, closing a visit designed to strengthen the Church’s pastoral presence and encourage dialogue, faith, and reconciliation across the African continent.
