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Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to return to Rome on Thursday, concluding a landmark four-nation tour of Africa marked by his sharp critiques of global governance.
During his 10-day journey through Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, the first American pontiff adopted an increasingly bold rhetorical style, condemning international law violations and the rise of “neocolonial” powers.
His final stop in Equatorial Guinea saw tens of thousands of faithful gather in the rain for a closing Mass, where he delivered a message of spiritual liberation from the “slavery of evil.”
The tour was characterised by a growing rift between the Vatican and the White House.
U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly criticised the Pope, labelling him “terrible” in response to Leo’s vocal opposition to the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
Despite these verbal attacks, the Pope maintained that he would not be silenced, though he clarified to the press that his speeches—which targeted global “tyrants” and the influence of the world’s wealthiest—had been drafted well before the president’s latest remarks.
Spanning nearly 18,000 kilometres, this ambitious trip served as a platform for the Pope to address what he described as a world ravaged by a handful of leaders.
As he departs for Rome’s Fiumicino airport, the global community awaits his traditional in-flight news conference, where he is expected to further reflect on the direction of his papacy and his role as a critic of contemporary geopolitical trends.
