A look back at Pope Leo's first year as pontiff ahead of his Africa tour

Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on a historic 10-day visit across four African nations, marking his most ambitious overseas trip to date. The journey, beginning April 13 in Algeria, will also cover Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.

Carla O'Connor/Reuters

10 April 2026 at 09:04:36

A look back at Pope Leo's first year as pontiff ahead of his Africa tour

Pope Leo XIV waves on the day he holds the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican April 8, 2026.

Remo Casilli/Reuters

Pope Leo XIV is preparing for his most ambitious overseas trip yet, visiting four countries across Africa in a historic ten-day tour.

The first American pope was elected in May last year, succeeding the late Pope Francis as leader of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church.

Leo will travel nearly 18,000 kilometres across 11 cities and towns in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, taking 18 flights along the way.

The tour will begin with a visit to Algeria on April 13.

-Carla O'Connor/Reuters