Pope Leo begins an ambitious four-country African journey on Monday, aiming to encourage global leaders to focus on the continent’s pressing needs. With over 20% of the world’s Catholic population residing in Africa, papal visits to the region have a rich and sometimes turbulent history.
POPE PAUL VI (1963 to 1978)
Breaking a 150-year tradition of papal isolation in Italy, Pope Paul VI became the first pontiff to travel to Africa when he journeyed to Uganda in 1969. The historic three-day trip occurred seven years following Uganda’s independence from British rule. During his stay, the pope delivered 19 addresses and consecrated 12 new Catholic bishops. Speaking before Uganda’s parliament, he advocated for peaceful conflict resolution. “No longer should violence be the means of resolving disagreements among men, but reason and love,” the pope declared.
POPE JOHN PAUL II (1978 to 2005)
John Paul II conducted 15 African journeys, reaching 41 nations across the continent. A 1988 nine-day expedition through five southern African countries was disrupted by violence in Lesotho, where armed individuals seized a bus carrying pilgrims and demanded political discussions with officials. The rescue mission resulted in the deaths of three attackers and two hostages. During the same tour, John Paul II denounced South Africa’s apartheid policies. His 1982 visit remains the most recent papal trip to Equatorial Guinea.
POPE BENEDICT XVI (2005 to 2013)
Benedict XVI made two African journeys during his papacy. His 2009 trip to Cameroon and Angola, while greeted by enthusiastic crowds, generated international controversy due to remarks made during his flight. When questioned about potentially easing the Church’s prohibition on condom use to combat HIV/AIDS transmission, Benedict stated that permitting condoms would only “increase the problem.” Given that approximately 22.5 million Africans were HIV-positive at the time, his comments triggered worldwide criticism.
POPE FRANCIS (2013 to 2025)
Francis has completed five African visits during his tenure. His 2015 journey to the Central African Republic marked the first time a pope had entered an active conflict zone, as the nation was experiencing a two-year sectarian war. Vatican advisors had recommended against the trip. Traveling from Uganda, Francis told the aircraft pilot: “I want to go to CAR, if you can’t manage it, give me a parachute!” In 2023, Francis made history by visiting South Sudan alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury, marking the first joint international trip by leaders of the Catholic and Anglican churches.
