Pope arrives Angola as Africa tour continues amid Trump tensions

Pope Leo XIV is set to arrive in Angola on Saturday, marking the third leg of his ongoing African tour, which has been overshadowed by a growing war of words with United States President Donald Trump over the Middle East conflict.

 

The visit makes Leo the third pontiff to travel to the oil-rich nation, following Pope John Paul II in 1992 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.

 

Before arriving in Luanda, the Pope is expected to conclude a three-day visit to Cameroon with an open-air Mass in Yaoundé, drawing thousands of worshippers.

 

In Angola, he is scheduled to meet President João Lourenço and deliver an address, as large crowds are anticipated to welcome the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

 

“It’s as if God were very close to us,” said Helena Maria Miguel, a resident expressing excitement over the visit.

 

Throughout his 11-day, four-nation African tour, Pope Leo has issued strong warnings against corruption, exploitation of natural resources, and the risks associated with artificial intelligence.

 

His messages have taken on a sharper tone in recent days, amid ongoing tensions with President Trump, although the pontiff has avoided mentioning him directly.

 

The Pope’s calls for peace are expected to resonate in Angola, a country still recovering from the effects of a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002.

 

He is expected to depart Angola on Tuesday, continuing his diplomatic and spiritual outreach across the continent.