Nigeria Missing As Pope Is Set For First African Tour

Pope Leo XIV will embark on an 11-day historic pastoral and diplomatic tour of Africa beginning April 13, marking his first major international journey since assuming leadership of the Roman Catholic Church. Notably, Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest Catholic populations, has been excluded from the itinerary.

The pontiff’s visit will cover four countries Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea spanning more than 18,000 kilometres across the continent.

During the trip, Pope Leo XIV is expected to deliver 11 addresses, celebrate seven Masses, and engage with political, religious, and community leaders before returning to Rome on April 23.

The exclusion of Nigeria has already drawn attention within Catholic circles, given the country’s significant role in the African Church and its rapidly growing Catholic population.

In Algeria, the visit will be historic, as Pope Leo XIV becomes the first pontiff to travel to the predominantly Muslim nation. His itinerary includes a scheduled visit to the Great Mosque of Algiers, high-level talks with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and a stop in Annaba, a city closely associated with the legacy of Saint Augustine.

In Cameroon, the Pope’s mission will focus on peacebuilding and reconciliation, particularly amid ongoing tensions in the country’s English-speaking regions. He is expected to visit Bamenda, meet President Paul Biya, and engage with Catholic institutions involved in education and healthcare.

The Angola leg of the tour will centre on issues of inequality, governance, and economic justice. Despite being rich in natural resources, Angola continues to face high poverty levels, and the pontiff is expected to call for fairer wealth distribution and stronger anti-corruption reforms.

In Equatorial Guinea, Pope Leo XIV will meet with government authorities led by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, with discussions expected to touch on human rights and social justice concerns in a politically sensitive environment.

According to Vatican sources, this will be the Pope’s third international trip outside Italy, following earlier visits to Turkey, Lebanon, and Monaco.

However, the omission of Nigeria from the African tour has sparked quiet debate, with observers noting the country’s strategic importance to the Catholic Church in Africa and its large faithful population.

The Vatican has not yet issued an official explanation for Nigeria’s exclusion.