In his April 29 Wednesday audience, Pope Leo XIV reflected on his recent apostolic journey to Africa, calling the experience an “immeasurable treasure for my heart and my ministry.”
The Holy Father recounted his visit to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, which he said was an opportunity to “strengthen bridges” between the world and the Church.
Pope Leo said the visit allowed him to witness the unifying power of faith.
“We were able to experience firsthand,” he said, “and show the world that it is possible to live together as brothers and sisters, even of different religions, when we recognize ourselves as children of the same merciful Father.”
Pope Leo then recalled a profound moment he likened to Jesus’s encounter with the crowds in Galilee, saying he also saw people “thirsting and hungry for justice.”
“[Jesus] saw them…” he said, “and proclaimed to them: ‘Blessed are the poor, blessed are the meek, blessed are the peacemakers’, and, recognizing their faith, said, ‘You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.’”
The Pontiff also said his journey to Cameroon reinforced the call to reconciliation and peace, noting that the country’s wealth of resources highlights the need for a fair distribution of wealth, opportunities for young people, and efforts to counter the “various forms of neo-colonialism.”
Pope Leo said he also witnessed the many faces of Christ in Angola, where he said the fruits of faith were evident in the lives of the people.
“I saw the faces,” he said, “of elderly people weathered by toil and suffering yet radiant with the joy of the Gospel. I saw women and men dancing to the rhythm of songs of praise to the Risen Lord, the foundation of a hope that withstands the disappointments caused by ideologies and the empty promises of the powerful.”
Affirming that such hope demands “concrete commitment,” Pope Leo said he assured Angolan leaders of the Catholic Church’s continued willingness to contribute, particularly in healthcare and education, in support of recognizing the “rights of all.”
The Pontiff concluded by reflecting on his visit to a prison in Equatorial Guinea, where, having “never seen anything like it,” he witnessed prisoners singing “at the top of their voices a song of thanksgiving to God and the pope” and asking him to pray for forgiveness of their sins and freedom.
Pope Leo added that the prisoners prayed the Lord's Prayer with him in the pouring rain, a moment he described as a “genuine sign of the Kingdom of God!”
“And still in the rain,” he continued, “the great meeting with the young people began in the stadium in Bata. A celebration of Christian joy, with moving testimonies from young people who have found in the Gospel the path to free and responsible growth.”
He said the culmination of this celebration was a Eucharistic celebration the next day, adding that this was a fitting way to bring the apostolic journey to a close.
“Dear brothers and sisters, the Pope’s visit is, for the African peoples, a chance to make their voices heard, to express the joy of being God’s people and the hope for a better future, of dignity for each and every one,” he said. “I am happy to have given them this opportunity, and at the same time I thank the Lord for what they have given me, an immeasurable treasure for my heart and my ministry.”