The Holy See Press Office releases the programme for Pope Leo XIV's Apostolic Journey to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, which takes place on April 13-23, 2026.
By Isabella H. de Carvalho From April 13 to 23, 2026, Pope Leo will travel to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, marking his third Apostolic Journey outside of Italy since the beginning of his pontificate. After visiting the Middle East in late 2025 by going to Türkiye and Lebanon, and with his next Journey scheduled in Europe, to Monaco, on March 28, the Pope’s third visit will bring him to four African countries. On Monday, the Holy See Press Office released the schedule of the Pope’s journey, which will feature 6 greetings, 10 addresses, and 8 homilies across 11 days and 11 cities. Algeria: April 13 to April 15 The Pope’s visit will begin in Algeria, where he will land in the capital, Algiers, on Monday, April 13. Upon his arrival, he will visit the Maqam Echahit Martyr’s Monument—commemorating the Algerian War and inaugurated in 1982 on the 20th anniversary of Algeria’s independence—where he will pronounce a greeting. The Pope will then travel to the Presidential Palace, where he will meet with the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, followed by an address to the authorities, representatives of civil society, and members of the diplomatic corps at the “Djamaa el Djazair” Conference Center. Pope Leo will then visit the Great Mosque of Algiers, one of the biggest in the world, as it can host up to 120,000 faithful. He will then participate in a private visit to the Welcome and Friendship Center of the Augustinian Missionary Sisters, in the nearby city of Bab El Oued. The Pope will end the day with an address to the Algerian community in the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers. On his second day in the North African country, Tuesday, April 14, the Pope will take a flight to the northeastern port city of Annaba, which developed from the ancient city of Hippo, home to St. Augustine. The Pope will visit the archaeological site of Hippo and then the nursing home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, where he will greet those present. The Pope will then have a private meeting with members of the Augustinian Order at the Augustinian Community House. He will celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Augustine, before taking a flight back to Algiers at the end of the day. Cameroon: April 15 to April 18 On Wednesday, April 15, Pope Leo will travel from Algiers to Yaoundé, capital of Cameroon. He will begin his journey to the central African country by visiting the President of the Republic, Paul Barthélemy Biya, at the Presidential Palace. He will then pronounce an address to the authorities, representatives of civil society, and members of the diplomatic corps at the Congress Center. Pope Leo will then visit the Ngul Zamba Orphanage, where he will greet the residents and workers, before meeting privately the Cameroonian Bishops at the headquarters of the Episcopal Conference. The following day, Thursday, April 16, the Pope will travel from the capital, Yaoundé, to the northwestern city of Bamenda, where he will pronounce an address and participate in a meeting for peace with the local community at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Then the Pope will celebrate Mass at the Bamenda International Airport before returning to Yaoundé. On Friday, April 17, the Pope will again embark on another flight, this time to the southwestern coastal town of Douala, where he will celebrate Mass at the Japoma Stadium. Pope Leo will then visit privately the St. Paul Catholic Hospital, before returning once more to the Cameroonian capital of Yaoundé. Upon his return, he will meet with university students and professors at the Catholic University of Central Africa, where he will pronounce an address. On Saturday, April 18, Pope Leo will celebrate Mass at the Yaoundé-Ville Airport, before departing for the third leg of his journey. Angola: April 18 to April 21 The Pope will land on April 18 in the Angolan capital, Luanda, and will again begin his journey by visiting the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, at the Presidential Palace. He will then meet with the authorities, civil society, and diplomatic corps, followed by a private meeting with the Angolan Bishops. On Sunday, April 19, Pope Leo XIV will celebrate Mass in the nearby city of Kilamba, and then take a helicopter to the town of Muxima. There he will pray the Rosary on the esplanade in front of the Marian shrine, Mama Muxima, and will also pronounce an address, before returning to Luanda at the end of the day. The following day, Monday, April 20, the Pope will again take a flight, this time to the northeastern town of Saurimo. There he will visit a nursing home, where he will greet those present, followed by the celebration of Mass at the Saurimo esplanade. Then the Pope will return to Luanda, where he will offer an address at the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima to the bishops, priests, consecrated men and women, and pastoral workers. Equatorial Guinea: April 21 to April 23 On the morning of Tuesday, April 21, Pope Leo will take a flight from Luanda to Malabo, the former capital of Equatorial Guinea. There he will visit the President of the Republic, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, and address the authorities, representatives of civil society, and members of the diplomatic corps, all at the Presidential Palace. Pope Leo XIV will then meet with cultural representatives at the León XIV Campus of the National University and pronounce an address, before visiting the staff and patients of the Jean Pierre Olie Psychiatric Hospital, where he will greet those present. The Pope will end the day with a private meeting with the Bishops of Equatorial Guinea. On Wednesday, April 22, Pope Leo will take three flights. First, to the town of Mongomo on the eastern border where he will celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. There he will also visit the Pope Francis Technology School, before taking his second flight to the port city of Bata. In Bata, the Pope will visit the prison and greet those present. He will then visit the Memorial to the victims of the March 7, 2021, explosions at a military base—which caused over 100 deaths and around 500 injured—and spend a moment in prayer. The Pope will then meet with young people and families at the Bata stadium, where he will pronounce an address, before taking his third flight of the day back to Malabo. On the last day of his Apostolic Journey, Thursday, April 23, Pope Leo will celebrate Mass at the Malabo stadium before taking his flight back to Rome.