The Vatican announced on February 25, 2026, that he will undertake a 10-day apostolic journey to four African countries from April 13 to 23, 2026. This marks his first pastoral trip to the continent as pope and highlights the rapid growth of Catholicism in Africa, where the number of Catholics is increasing faster than anywhere else in the world.
Key Stops include:
Algeria (April 13–15): Algiers and Annaba (following in the footsteps of St. Augustine, born in what is now Algeria; this will be the first-ever papal visit to the country).
Cameroon (April 15–18): Yaoundé (capital), Douala (economic hub), and Bamenda (in the restive Northwest region amid ongoing conflict).
Angola (April 18–21): Luanda, Muxima, and Saurimo.
Equatorial Guinea (April 21–23): Malabo, Mongomo, and Bata (the continent’s only Spanish-speaking nation).
The full official program of events has not yet been released, but the trip is expected to emphasize interfaith dialogue (especially Christian-Muslim relations in Algeria), support for development, community outreach, and strengthening ties with growing African Catholic communities.