Pope Leo XIV’s recent visit to Africa marks the longest journey of his papacy to date and underscores the continent’s growing importance within the global Catholic Church. Conducted nearly a year after his election, the trip highlighted Africa’s pivotal role amid rising global turbulence and reflected broader shifts in the demographics and influence of Catholicism.

Data from the Pontifical Mission Societies’ Agenzia Fides indicates that more than half of the Catholic population growth during 2022-23 occurred in Africa, continuing a trend that began in the 1970s toward the global south. This demographic expansion has established Africa not only as the future base of the faith but also as a key intellectual and spiritual driver. Fr Ambroise Tine, former secretary general of Caritas Senegal and now serving in the diocese of Thiès, emphasized that the continent and its Black diaspora have the potential to significantly shape the church’s evangelization efforts worldwide, noting the irony that Christianity’s preservation in some Western countries is often linked to far-right politics, yet its vitality there depends considerably on African and Caribbean worshippers.

During his visit, Leo addressed issues of governance and exploitation that challenge Africa. In Cameroon, he criticized entrenched corruption, implicitly referencing the lengthy rule of President Paul Biya, while also highlighting the dual burden faced by the continent from internal mismanagement and external exploitation of its natural resources. The pope condemned those who “continue to lay their hands on the African continent to exploit and plunder it,” signaling concern over longstanding systemic abuses.

Although his itinerary included stops in Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Angola, and Algeria, the pope notably bypassed some of Africa’s largest Catholic communities in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania. This selection appears aimed at drawing attention to nations emblematic of colonial and postcolonial struggles, including corruption and religious plurality. In Muslim-majority Algeria, Leo visited a mosque and advocated for interfaith dialogue, highlighting the importance of religious coexistence.

Leo’s visit to Angola included a stop at the Church of Our Lady of Muxima, a site linked historically to the transatlantic slave trade. While he acknowledged the site’s spiritual significance through centuries of both joy and suffering, he did not directly address the legacy of enslavement. This omission is notable given the pope’s own heritage, with his maternal grandparents identified historically as Black or mulatto.

Observers suggest the trip also served to reinforce Africa’s theological contributions to the universal church. According to Fr Tine, the pope aimed to elevate awareness of African influence on Catholic pastoral thought and encouraged the church to reinvigorate that legacy in the contemporary global context.

The visit occurs as Pope Leo XIV has engaged more visibly in global political discourse, positioning the church as a moral voice amid conflict. His criticism of war—and direct references to scriptural passages condemning violence—mirror the approach of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who openly condemned violence in Gaza and maintained close ties with Catholic communities in conflict zones.

The pope’s African journey signals a broader role for the Catholic Church as it seeks to provide guidance amid the complexities of modern crises, conflicts, and social upheavals. As noted by Fr Tine, the church’s evolving engagement with Africa is particularly significant in a rapidly changing and often troubled world.