Pope Leo XIV Addresses Exploitation and Peace During Angola Visit on Africa Tour

Pope Leo XIV condemned exploitation and corruption by the rich and powerful during a visit to Angola's diamond-rich northeast on Monday. He lamented that many people in the world were being exploited by authoritarians and defrauded by the rich during an event in Angola on Monday.

Pope Leo XIV told worshippers at a Mass in Saurimo, near the Democratic Republic of Congo border, that violence and oppression went against the Christian faith.

The pope's Africa tour lasted 11 days and spanned four nations: Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. Pope Leo XIV's Africa tour began on April 20, 2026, and concludes on Thursday. Africa accounted for nearly 300 million Catholic believers in 2024 and is the fastest-growing part of the Catholic Church worldwide.

One in five Catholics worldwide are African, though Africa holds around 10% of the cardinal seats of power at the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV's journey intertwined the theme of peace with concerns for the plight of the poor as well as refugees. Migration was a particular focus in Algeria during Pope Leo XIV's tour, as Algeria is one of the continent’s transit corridors toward Europe.

Pope Leo XIV condemned the US-Iran war during his tour. In a speech to authorities in Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV slammed tyrants for ransacking their countries and appealed to leaders to examine their conscience. In Angola, Pope Leo XIV warned against those who plunder the continent’s resources while delivering only poverty.

U.S. pope has drawn criticism from President Donald Trump for his outspoken comments, according to the South China Morning Post. The tour drew tens of thousands of worshippers, extending beyond pastoral outreach to address demographic shifts in the Catholic Church.

“Many people in the world were being exploited by authoritarians and defrauded by the rich.”