Thousands of faithful gathered this Sunday near Luanda to attend an open-air mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV, who was visiting Angola as part of his African tour. In Kilamba, about 30 kilometers from the capital, a large crowd formed in the early hours, with some participants having spent the night there in the hope of seeing the pontiff.
The event was marked by strong popular enthusiasm, including religious songs, Vatican flags, and t-shirts bearing the Pope's image. This mobilization testifies to the importance of Catholicism in the country, where a significant portion of the population identifies with this religion.
A speech focused on inequalities
Upon his arrival in Angola, the third stop on his eleven-day tour of the African continent, Leo XIV delivered a critical speech on the consequences of natural resource exploitation. He spoke of the "suffering" and "social and environmental catastrophes" linked to this situation in a country rich in oil and minerals but marked by stark inequalities.
These remarks reflect a more assertive tone adopted by the Pope in recent days, as he has increasingly taken a stand on social and economic issues. Several local religious leaders have also highlighted the concentration of wealth and the persistent difficulties inherited from the civil war.
An African tour that continues
After this Mass, the Pope is scheduled to continue his trip to Angola, including a planned visit to Muxima, a major pilgrimage site located about 130 kilometers from Luanda. This trip is part of a larger tour that will also take him to other African countries.
This visit comes in a social context marked by poverty and the expectations of the population, who hope for messages of support and encouragement in the face of the country's economic and social challenges.
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