Pope Leo XIV started his papal trip, a trip outside of Rome, to visit Catholics that couldn’t go see him on April 13. The first country he visited was Algeria, a country that no other Pope has visited before. He then plans to go to Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. The entire trip is planned to last 11 days. Pope Leo’s trip to Africa started with his criticism of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Pope Leo has spoken out about the Russian and Ukrainian war and the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. His mission for his trip to Africa is to bring peace and encourage Christian-Muslim coexistence. 

“God desires peace for every nation, a peace that is not merely an absence of conflict but one that is an expression of justice and dignity,” said Pope Leo during his stay in Algeria.

Pope Leo XIV is the first pope in history to make a papal visit to Algeria. The Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune greeted him and brought to Maqam Echahid, a memorial to those who died in the Algerian War for Independence.

John Pontifex, from the Catholic Charity Aid, said, “A focus on Africa this early on in Pope Leo’s pontificate no doubt reflects a sense that in terms of Catholicism this is a continent that is coming of age.”

Africa’s growing Catholic population has drawn the attention of the Catholic Church. The Pope’s trip is seen as a way to draw attention to communities that are overlooked and face injustices. 

Lucy Esipila, Regional Coordinator for Caritas Africa, said, “At a time when many African nations continue to face conflict, debt burdens, and widening inequalities, this apostolic journey is a powerful expression of solidarity, of ‘walking together’ as a global church that listens to voices from the peripheries.”

Pope Leo’s trip to Africa has the potential to bring awareness to conflicts in Africa that outside countries often don’t notice and inspire peace. Within 11 days, Pope Leo will travel to four different countries, spreading his message of peace within and outside of those who follow the Catholic Church.