By Our Correspondent
National News – Pope Leo XIV led a massive open-air Sunday Mass on April 19, 2026, at Kilamba on the outskirts of Luanda, Angola, drawing tens of thousands of faithful during his ongoing African pastoral tour.
He arrived in Angola on Saturday and met President João Lourenço before the mass, where he highlighted concerns about poverty, corruption, and unequal distribution of the country’s oil and diamond wealth.
The Vatican-led visit is part of an 11-day mission across Africa aimed at promoting peace, social justice, and hope for communities facing hardship.
Worshippers gathered early, seeking spiritual encouragement and messages of hope amid unemployment and economic inequality, with many young people hoping for better opportunities.
The event underscored Angola’s socio-economic challenges, as the country remains rich in oil and diamonds but still faces widespread poverty affecting nearly a third of its population.
It also highlighted concerns raised during the Pope’s meeting with President João Lourenço, where issues of corruption, resource mismanagement, and social inequality were discussed.
After the mass, Pope Leo XIV was expected to travel by helicopter to Muxima, a historic pilgrimage town known for the centuries-old church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and linked to Angola’s slave trade history.
The church, which overlooks the Kwanza River, attracts millions of pilgrims annually and symbolizes both faith and the painful legacy of colonial-era slavery.
Analysts say the Pope’s visit reflects broader calls for justice, redistribution of wealth, and renewed democratic governance in Angola following years of civil war and political dominance by the ruling party.
Large crowds gathered in both urban and rural areas, with many worshippers describing the visit as a rare moment of encouragement amid economic hardship and unemployment challenges.
Security was tightened across Luanda as authorities managed crowd control during the papal mass, which was held under an open sky and broadcast to wider audiences.
Observers also noted that the Pope’s African tour, spanning several countries, aims to strengthen dialogue on peace, poverty reduction, and youth empowerment across the continent.
