Vatican City — Pope Leo XIV will travel to Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon from 13-23 April in his first overseas journey of 2026, according to an official Vatican statement released Wednesday.
The Algeria portion marks the first papal visit to a Muslim — majority nation since Leo’s election, with stops scheduled in Algiers and Annaba. Annaba contains the ancient site of Hippo, home of fourth-century theologian St.
Augustine, a figure revered within the pope’s Augustinian order.
Catholics number fewer than 5,000 in Algeria’s population of roughly 47 million. Regional officials say the stop is intended to advance Catholic-Muslim dialogue rather than boost local church attendance.
After Algeria, the pontiff will continue to Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon.
Sources close to the planning team said each leg will focus on meeting local clergy, visiting social projects and holding public Masses. Detailed programmes are expected four weeks before departure.
Africa now hosts about twenty percent of the world’s 1.
4 billion Catholics, making it the continent with the fastest church growth.
An official communiqué framed the tour as recognition of that expanding membership.
Before the African journey, Leo will make a one — day visit to Monaco on 28 March.
In June he is scheduled to travel to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands, where officials say he will highlight migration issues along the Atlantic route to Europe. Further travel dates, security arrangements and health protocols have not yet been published.
