Pope Leo XIV Returns

Pope Leo XIV returned to Rome on Thursday after an 11-day tour of four African countries that became his sharpest foreign trip yet. (vatican.va) (usnews.com) The Vatican schedule listed stops in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea from April 13 to April 23, with 11 cities on the itinerary. Reuters, cited by multiple outlets, reported the trip covered nearly 18,000 kilometers, or about 11,000 miles. (vatican.va) (cathstan.org) He ended the journey in Equatorial Guinea, where Vatican News said he visited the Pope Francis Technical School in Mongomo on April 22. The same day, he also traveled to Bata and Malabo for public events before a final Mass on April 23. (vaticannews.va 1) (vaticannews.va 2) In his closing days on the continent, Leo turned repeatedly to politics as well as prayer. Reuters reported that he denounced “despotism and war” during the trip, while the Associated Press said he urged Equatorial Guineans to work for “freedom” and “justice” and to narrow the gap between the privileged and the disadvantaged. (usnews.com) (apnews.com) Those remarks landed in one of Africa’s most tightly controlled states. The Associated Press reported that prisoners shouted “freedom” during Leo’s prison visit in Equatorial Guinea, and Reuters said his criticism of global leadership drew anger from U.S. President Donald Trump. (apnews.com) (usnews.com) The Rome he flew back to was marking another date in the church’s recent upheaval. Vatican News said commemorations for the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ death were held at St. Mary Major, with a Rosary and a memorial Mass led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re on April 21. (vaticannews.va 1) (vaticannews.va 2) EWTN reported that cardinals, bishops and lay Catholics gathered at the basilica where Francis is buried, and that Leo, while traveling in Africa, praised his predecessor’s solidarity with “the poorest” and “the most vulnerable.” Francis had chosen St. Mary Major as his burial place after his funeral on April 26, 2025. (ewtnnews.com) (vaticannews.va) Leo was elected in May 2025, and Vatican News has described 2025 as the year of Francis’ death, the conclave and the start of Leo’s pontificate. That made this Africa trip his first visit to the continent as pope and one of the clearest tests so far of how he plans to carry Francis’ social message into his own papacy. (vaticannews.va) (ewtnnews.com) He now returns to the Vatican with the Africa tour behind him and Francis’ anniversary still hanging over Rome. His next public milestone on the calendar is a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on April 26 for the ordination of eight priests. (vaticannews.va)