Pope Leo to tour countries in first major overseas trip

VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo will visit four countries across Africa from April 13-23, the Vatican announced on Wednesday, with the pontiff making his first major overseas trip in 2026 to the continent where the Catholic Church is growing fastest. The pope will also make a one-day visit on March 28 to Monaco, the ⁠microstate on the French Riviera, and will visit Spain from June 6-12, the Vatican said. In Africa, Leo ⁠will visit Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. He is expected to draw large crowds, urge world leaders to support development on the continent, and highlight efforts at Catholic-Muslim dialogue.
Vatican officials and African Church leaders say the upcoming papal tour in Africa is a sign of the priority the Church places on the continent. 'Pope Leo's visit will remind the world that Africa ​matters and the vibrancy of the Church in Africa remains at the heart of a thriving (global) Church,' said Reverend Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, a Jesuit from Nigeria. As part of the trip to Spain, Leo is expected to visit the Canary Islands, which has become a major point of entry for migrants trying to get to Europe. — Reuters