His Holiness Pope Leo will embark on his first major international apostolic journey later this month, traveling to three African nations in a bid to promote interfaith dialogue, environmental stewardship, and reconciliation in regions affected by conflict.
The Vatican announced today that the Pontiff will visit Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kenya from April 26 to May 5, marking his most significant foreign engagement since ascending to the papacy.
In a statement, Vatican Press Office Director, Matteo Bruni, described the tour as “a pastoral and prophetic mission,” emphasizing the Pope’s desire to stand alongside African youth, displaced communities, and religious leaders working to heal divisions.
Highlights of the Apostolic Journey Include: Abuja & Lagos, Nigeria (April 26-29): An interfaith summit with Christian and Muslim leaders, followed by a visit to internally displaced persons in the northeast affected by insurgent violence.
Kinshasa & Goma, DRC (April 30-May 2): A Mass for millions of faithful, a meeting with victims of armed groups in the east, and a youth gathering focused on peacebuilding and anti-corruption. Nairobi, Kenya (May 3-5): An address at the UN Environment Programme headquarters on climate justice and a visit to a large slum to underscore the dignity of the poor.
Pope Leo, known for his humble style and sharp critiques of economic inequality, told reporters aboard the papal plane, “Africa is not a distant periphery. It is the heart of our Church’s future. I go not to lecture, but to listen and to learn.”
Security will be a key focus, with Vatican gendarmes coordinating with local authorities amid ongoing threats from extremist groups in the Sahel and Great Lakes regions. The Pope’s doctors have cleared him for the rigorous schedule, which includes several open-air Masses expected to draw millions.
This will be the first papal visit to the DRC since Pope Francis in 2023, and the first to Nigeria by a Pontiff in more than a decade. Analysts say the trip signals Pope Leo’s strategic prioritization of the Global South, where Catholicism is growing fastest.