Africa World

Pope Leo prays at Angola shrine

Pope Leo prays at Angola shrine

Continuing his tour of southern Africa, Pope Leo XIV prayed at the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima, an epicenter of Portugal's colonial-era slave trade.

His visit comes amid renewed global scrutiny of the Catholic Church's historical role in slavery and its colonial-era doctrines.

The Pope celebrated Mass before an estimated 100,000 people, offering a message of hope to a population still recovering from decades of civil conflict.

The visit also highlighted the Pope's ongoing rhetorical feud with the Trump administration over social and political issues.

Leo XIV
267th Pope of the Catholic Church (2025–)
Angola
Country on the west coast of Southern Africa
Muxima
Human settlement
Catholic Church
Largest Christian Church, made up of 24 autonomous Churches in communion with the Pope, part of the Latin Church aka Latin Christianity aka western Christianity