Pope Leo visits Angola in landmark African tour amidst US controversy

Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Angola for Third Leg of African Tour

Pope Leo XIV is set to arrive in Luanda, Angola’s capital city, on Saturday at 3pm local time. This marks the third leg of his landmark African tour, which has taken him to Cameroon and other destinations across the continent.

The pope will meet with President Joao Lourenco and deliver a speech in the country, where approximately 44% of the population identifies as Catholic. Angola’s history is marked by a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002, following independence from Portugal in 1975.

During his visit, Pope Leo XIV has issued statements on various issues, including corruption, the exploitation of Africa’s resources, and the dangers of artificial intelligence. His comments have been met with responses from US President Donald Trump, who has criticized the pope’s views on foreign policy and called him “weak on crime”.

The pope’s Africa tour has also seen a clash with Trump, who shared an image that appeared to be generated by AI, prompting a backlash from leaders across the religious spectrum. The pope responded by stating he was not afraid of Trump and would continue to speak out against war.

Pope Leo XIV will celebrate an open-air Mass in Kilamba on Sunday before traveling to Muxima, where he will visit a 16th-century church and major pilgrimage site. He is also scheduled to meet with leaders in Saurimo and Equatorial Guinea, the final stop of his tour, which spans over 18,000km.

The pope’s arrival in Luanda has been marked by billboards bearing his image, welcoming him to the country.

Source: Al Jazeera