MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (RNS) — Pope Leo XIV departed Equatorial Guinea on Thursday afternoon (April 23), concluding an 11-day tour of four African nations that blended pastoral connection with pointed calls for justice, leaving behind both renewed hope and questions about what comes next.
Hours after presiding over his final Mass in Malabo, the pope boarded his return flight to Rome, ending a journey that took him through Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. Across the continent, religious leaders told Religion News Service that his message of peace, accountability and human dignity resonated with faithful, particularly among communities facing conflict, poverty and political uncertainty.
The visit, in which Leo emphasized reconciliation, social justice and the ethical use of resources, is already being described by clergy and lay leaders as a defining moment that reaffirmed Africa’s importance within the global Catholic Church, while also challenging leaders to confront long-standing structural problems.
In Cameroon’s Anglophone region, where years of conflict have displaced thousands and disrupted daily life, the pope’s presence carried powerful symbolic weight. The Rev. Killian Ndonui Nshamikara, a priest serving in Bamenda, said the visit brought reassurance to communities living under fear and uncertainty.
“The Holy Father came at a moment when many people feel forgotten and exhausted,” …