Pope Leo XIV Begins Africa Tour Amid Public Dispute with Trump

Pope Leo XIV has begun a 10-day tour of Africa, visiting four countries in a trip aimed at drawing global attention to the continent’s growing Catholic population and pressing social challenges.

The visit started with a historic stop in Algeria, marking the first time a Catholic pope has travelled to the predominantly Muslim nation. From there, the pontiff will continue to Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, covering nearly 18,000 kilometres across 18 flights and 11 cities.

The Vatican says the trip is intended to highlight Africa’s importance to the global Church. More than 20 percent of the world’s Catholics live on the continent, with the three sub-Saharan countries on the itinerary having majority Catholic populations. According to Michael Czerny, a senior Vatican official, the visit is meant “to help turn the world’s attention to Africa,” with expected focus on issues such as resource exploitation, interfaith dialogue and political corruption.

The pope, 70, arrived in Algiers after departing Rome’s Fiumicino Airport and is scheduled to meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune before addressing political leaders. He will also visit the Great Mosque of Algiers, only his second visit to a mosque since becoming pope. A major event is expected in Douala, Cameroon, where about 600,000 people are projected to attend a papal Mass.

The trip coincides with escalating tensions between the pontiff and Donald Trump, who publicly criticised Leo in a social media post on Sunday, describing him as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.” Trump said he did not want “a Pope who criticises the President of the United States,” comments that appear linked to the pope’s recent criticism of the US-Israel war on Iran.

Speaking to journalists aboard the papal flight to Algiers, Leo declined to engage directly with Trump. He said he would continue to advocate for peace, dialogue and multilateral cooperation, stressing that global conflicts were causing widespread suffering and civilian deaths.

The exchange reflects broader policy differences between the two figures. Leo has criticised hardline immigration policies in the United States and warned against escalating military rhetoric, recently describing threats of large-scale destruction as “truly unacceptable.” Trump, in turn, questioned the pope’s leadership, calling him “very liberal” and saying he was “not a big fan,” while also claiming, without evidence, that his presidency influenced Leo’s election as the first US-born pope.

Despite the political backdrop, the Africa visit remains one of the most complex papal trips in recent decades. Leo is expected to deliver 25 speeches in multiple languages, including English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. His itinerary also includes a visit to Annaba in Algeria, where he will tour the ancient site of Hippo, associated with Augustine of Hippo, reflecting his ties to the Augustinian order. The Vatican says the tour will emphasise peace, reconciliation and engagement across religious and political divides.