Completing (23/4) one of the most complicated journeys in the history of the papacy, as it included 11 cities in 11 days in 4 different African countries (Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, Equatorial Guinea), crossing 18,000 kilometers with 18 flights, the Pope Leo he had a chance to find a confident voice, stepping out of the shadow of his predecessor Pope Francis. Addressing journalists on the return journey, he chose to speak directly to the burning issues of the current historical moment. He called on the US and Iran to return to negotiations so that a permanent peace can be achieved. He stressed that humanity needs a new “culture of peace” to replace today’s celebration of violence, hatred and division. He noted that the important issue is not whether there will be regime change in Iran, but finding a way to promote the values we believe in without causing the deaths of so many innocent people. He revealed that he has with him a photo of a young Lebanese Muslim, who was recently killed in the war between Israel and Hezbollah, and who had welcomed the Pope during his visit to Beirut.
Emphasis on immigrants and political prisoners
The Pope also stressed that there must be a humane treatment of migrants, even while recognizing the right of states to impose border controls. He made it a priority for rich countries to take responsibility for improving conditions in poorer ones, so that there is no need for their people to leave. He condemned the death penalty, answering a question about hangings in Iran. Asked about the modern culture wars surrounding gender issues and whether they are dividing the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope replied that Christian ethics should not be limited to sexual issues, but should prioritize questions of justice, equality and freedom. He said, however, that he does not agree with an official ritual blessing of same-sex couples, as requested by the Archbishop of Munich, Cardinal Reinhard Marx. Under Pope Francis, the possibility of an unofficial blessing of same-sex couples had been given, if it was considered pastorally appropriate by the respective local community. Pope Leo believes that he should not go further on issues that will divide the Catholic Church.
The discussion was occupied by the messages sent by Pope Leo’s visit to Africa. To criticism that he has been too diplomatic and suggestive in his criticism of African leaders who are accused of human rights abuses, the Pope responded that he came to Africa mainly as a pastor accompanying his flock and that it is better for issues such as the release of political prisoners to be resolved behind the scenes by the diplomacy of the Holy See than for there to be emphatic public complaints that lead to a hardening of politicians’ attitudes. In any case, Pope Leo’s trip included visits to places of symbolic importance that implicitly but clearly raised issues of oppression and exploitation by the regimes.
Urging the people of Angola to transcend divisions
On Sunday, April 19, Pope Leo celebrated mass in Kilamba, a city located 30 kilometers south of Luanda, the capital of Angola, where 40% of the population is Catholic and about 80% Christian. The service took place on a dirt field with the participation of 130,000 believers. The Pope then traveled 110 kilometers by helicopter to pray in a place that was once a hub for the slave trade. In the city of Mousima, a church was visited which is one of the most important pilgrimages in the country, with an emblematic statue of the Virgin Mary popularly called “Mama Mousima”. The temple overlooks the Kwanza River, which was a major slave trade route. In his main speech, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that “every form of oppression, violence, exploitation and dishonor denies the resurrection of Christ”. The Pope lamented the fact that so many people in the world “become objects of exploitation by authoritarians and abuses by the rich”. He called on the people of Angola to overcome corruption and divisions, referring to the suffering of the civil war (1975-2002), which “brought hostility and poverty”. He insisted on the need to build the country’s future on hope. In the talks with the President Joao Lorenzothe Pope emphasized the need to avoid ecological disasters linked to the overexploitation of natural resources.
Avoiding counter-appeals with Donald Trump
Pope Leo also held a mass in Saurimo, near the border with Congo, where he stressed that oppression nullifies the message of the Gospel. In Angola, Pope Leo also raised the issue (18/4) of the overexploitation of Africa’s natural resources by “despots and tyrants”. He refrained, however, from naming specific “authoritarian leaders”. In fact, he clarified, speaking to journalists (19/4) that the speeches of the African tour had been written many weeks before, so they did not contain answers to the accusations of the American President Donald Trump, as they were written before the conflict. On the flight from Cameroon to Angola, the Pope said he was not interested in continuing the recriminations with President Trump.
Denouncing the overexploitation of natural resources
In Equatorial Guinea, the Pope met President Theodore Obiang Ngema Bashongo, who is the world’s longest-serving president, having ruled since 1979. Speaking in the capital Malabo, he condemned economies that set profit as an end in itself. He called for more work against inequality and exclusion in order to preserve natural resources, noting that outbreaks of armed conflict are linked to the exploitation of oil and mineral resources without respect for international law and the self-determination of peoples. Pope Leo condemned the pursuit of unjust wealth and noted that exclusion is the new face of social injustice, while expressing concern about the growing gap between rich and poor.
