Pope Leo XIV has begun the third leg of his apostolic journey across Africa, where he has engaged Angola’s authorities, civil society and members of the diplomatic corps.
Speaking alongside Angola’s President, João Lourenço, the Holy Father framed his visit as a pastoral mission rooted in solidarity with the Angolan people, stating, “I come to you to meet your people, as a pilgrim seeking the signs of God’s passage in this land loved by Him.”
During his address, the pontiff also turned to recent humanitarian challenges, including flooding in Benguela province and offered his prayer for the victims. Pope Leo XIV also expressed “closeness to the families who have lost their homes,” while commending the national response.
Pope Leo XIV placed particular emphasis on the human dimension of Angola’s development, describing its people as the country’s greatest asset. “Your people possess treasures that cannot be sold or stolen.” Among these, he emphasised a resilience rooted in experience. “There is within them a joy that not even the most adverse circumstances have been able to extinguish,” he added.
At the same time, he issued a pointed warning about economic exploitation, criticising systems that prioritise extraction over human dignity. “Too often your regions have been, and still are, looked upon in order to give or more often, to take something,” he said, calling for “this chain of interests, which reduces reality and life itself to a commodity,” to be dismantled.
Moreover, Pope Leo XIV described the continent as a reserve of joy and hope, particularly highlighting the resilience of young people and the poor. “Its young people and its poor still dream, still hope, do not settle for what already exists,” he said, presenting their aspirations as a driving force for change. The Holy Father also emphasised dialogue as essential to resolving tensions and urged leaders to place the common good before particular interests, warning that “the best way to dominate is to sow hopelessness and constant mistrust.”
Pope Leo XIV Concludes Second Leg of Apostolic Visit in Cameroon
Pope Leo XIV concluded the second leg of his apostolic journey to Africa with a solemn Mass in Yaoundé, urging Christians to remain steadfast in faith, unity and courage in the face of life’s challenges
The Mass, held at Yaoundé-Ville Airport, drew around 200,000 faithful, with many arriving early and camping overnight to witness the historic celebration. Thousands more followed from surrounding areas, marking a powerful conclusion to the Pope’s four-day visit to Cameroon before he continues his pastoral journey to Angola.
During his homily, the Holy Father reflected on the Gospel account of the disciples battling strong winds on the Sea of Galilee, drawing parallels with the struggles faced by individuals and communities today.
Pope Leo XIV noted that just as the Church throughout history has navigated periods of uncertainty and hardship, so too must people confront the storms of modern life, often marked by fear, doubt and adversity.
At the centre of his message was reassurance and hope, as he reminded the faithful that they are never alone in their struggles, stating, “Jesus is with us always, stronger than any power of evil. Jesus does not abandon us, just like he did not abandon the disciples on the Sea of Galilee.”
Pope Leo XIV emphasised that while faith does not remove life’s difficulties, it equips believers with the strength to persevere and move forward with confidence, adding, “we go forward always with courage and trust.”
The Holy Father also advocated for greater community solidarity, calling people to help one another, especially those who are suffering or terrified and also emphasised that no one should face adversity alone and the significance of communal responsibility in reacting to crises whether social, political, economic, or medical.
“Faith does not separate the spiritual from the social. Indeed, it gives Christians the strength to interact with the world, responding to the needs of others, especially the weakest.
“The isolated efforts of individuals are not enough for the salvation of a community: instead, what is needed is a communal commitment, which integrates the spiritual and moral dimensions of the Gospel in the heart of local institutions and structures, making them instruments for the common good, and not places of conflict, self-interest or sterile struggles.”
Pope Leo XIV
In his concluding remarks, the Holy Father encouraged the faithful to carry forward the spirit of the celebration into their daily lives, drawing strength from shared experiences of faith and allowing them to inspire renewal and hope.
The Holy Father also expressed his deep appreciation to the people of Cameroon, praising what he described as their “wonderful welcome, the great enthusiasm, the joy of the people,” adding that his visit in Cameroon was “absolutely fantastic.”
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