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Upon arrival at Luanda International Airport, the Holy Father was welcomed by the President of Angola, His Excellency Mr. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço. Two children offered a floral tribute to the Pontiff.

After the national anthems, the Honour to the Flags and the passage of the Guard of Honour, the presentation of the respective delegations took place.

At the end of the welcome ceremony, at 15.30 local time, the Holy Father transferred by car to the Presidential Palace for the courtesy visit to the President of the Republic of Angola.

Upon arrival at the Presidential Palace, after passing the Guard of Honour, the Pope was welcomed by the President. Together, they entered the main hall for the official photograph and then proceeded to the Gabinete do Presidente where the private meeting took place.

The Pope and the President continued to the Salão Nobre for the exchange of gifts.

Finally, the Pope and the President transferred by car to the Protocol Pavilion for the meeting with the authorities, civil leaders and the Diplomatic Corps.

 

Meeting with the Authorities, Civil Society and the Diplomatic Corps

At 16.15, in the Protocol Pavilion of the Presidential Palace, the meeting with the Authorities, Civil Society and the Diplomatic Corps took place.

After the greeting from the President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, the Holy Father delivered his address.

At the end of the meeting, at 16.45 local time, the Pope transferred to the Apostolic Nunciature for a private meeting with the bishops of Angola.

The following is the address delivered by Pope Leo XIV to those present during the meeting:

 

Address of the Holy Father

Mr President, Distinguished Civil Authorities and Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a source of great joy for me to be in your midst. I express my gratitude to you, Mr President, for the invitation to visit Angola and for your kind words of welcome. I have come among you as a pilgrim, seeking the signs of God’s presence in this land so beloved by him.

Before continuing, I would like to offer the assurance of my prayers for the victims of the heavy rains and floods that have struck the province of Benguela, and to express my closeness to the families who have lost their homes. I also know that you, the people of Angola, are united in a great chain of solidarity with those affected.

I desire to meet you in the spirit born of peace and to affirm that your people possess treasures that cannot be bought or taken away. In particular, there dwells within you a joy that not even the most adverse circumstances have been able to extinguish. This joy — which is no stranger to sorrow, indignation, disappointment and defeat — endures and is continually reborn among those who have kept their hearts and minds free from the seductions of wealth. You know well that all too often people have looked — and continue to look — to your lands in order to give, or, more commonly, in order to take. It is necessary to break this cycle of interests, which reduces reality, and even life itself, to mere commodities.

For the entire world, Africa is a reservoir of joy and hope, which are virtues that I would not hesitate to call “political,” because her young people and her poor continue to dream and to hope. They are not content with what already exists; they strive to rise above, to prepare themselves for great responsibilities, and to take an active part in shaping their own future. Indeed, the wisdom of a people cannot be stifled by any ideology, and the longing for the infinite that dwells in the human heart is a principle of social transformation far deeper than any political or cultural program. I am here among you, at the service of the finest powers that animate the persons and communities, of which Angola is a rich and vibrant mosaic. I wish to listen to and encourage all those who have already chosen the paths of goodness, justice, peace, tolerance and reconciliation. At the same time, together with the millions of men and women of good will who constitute the primary wealth of this country, I also pray for the conversion of those who choose contrary paths and hinder its harmonious and fraternal development.

Dear friends, I have mentioned the material riches upon which powerful interests lay their claim, even within your own country. How much suffering, how many deaths, how many social and environmental disasters are brought about by this logic of extractivism! At every level, we see how it sustains a model of development that discriminates and excludes, while still presuming to impose itself as the only viable option.  Saint Paul VI , with keen insight into the concerns of younger generations, already sixty years ago denounced the “senile and definitely out-of-date aspect of a commercial, hedonistic and materialistic civilization which is still trying to present itself as the gateway to the future.” He observed: “Even in its very excesses, the instinctive reaction of many young people against this illusion takes on a certain importance. This generation is waiting for something else” (Apostolic Exhortation  Gaudete in Domino , VI). You are witnesses — thanks to the ancient wisdom that shapes your thoughts and sensibilities — that creation is harmony in the richness of diversity. Your people have suffered time and again when this harmony was violated by the arrogance of a few. They bear the scars not only of material exploitation, but also of the presumption of imposing an idea upon others. Africa urgently needs to overcome situations and dynamics of conflict and enmity that tear apart the social and political fabric of many countries, fostering poverty and exclusion. Only in encounter does life flourish. Dialogue is the first step. This does not rule out disagreement, which can turn into conflict.

My venerable predecessor,  Pope Francis , offered an unforgettable reflection in this regard: “When conflict arises, some people simply look at it and go their way as if nothing happened; they wash their hands of it and get on with their lives. Others embrace it in such a way that they become its prisoners; they lose their bearings, project onto institutions their own confusion and dissatisfaction and thus make unity impossible. But there is also a third way, and it is the best way to deal with conflict. It is the willingness to face conflict head on, to resolve it and to make it a link in the chain of a new process. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers!’ ( Mt  5:9)” (Apostolic Exhortation  Evangelii Gaudium , 227). Angola can experience great growth if, first of all, those who hold authority in the country believe in the manifold nature of its riches. Do not be afraid of disagreement; do not suppress the ideas of the young or the dreams of the elderly; and know how to manage conflicts by transforming them into paths of renewal. Place the common good before every particular interest, never confusing your own part with the whole. History will then vindicate you, even if in the near term some may oppose you.

I have spoken of the joy and hope that characterize your young society. While these are often considered merely as personal, private sentiments, they are, in truth, a profound and empowering force — one that resists every form of resignation and every temptation to close in on oneself. Despots and tyrants of both body and spirit seek to render souls passive and passions gloomy; they prefer a populace prone to inertia, docile and subservient to power. For in sadness, we are indeed at the mercy of our fears and imagination; we take refuge in fanaticism, in submission, in the deafening noise of the media, in the glimmer of gold, in the identitarian myth. Discontent, a sense of powerlessness and uprootedness divide us rather than bringing us together. This spreads a climate of estrangement from the public sphere, contempt for the misfortune of others and the negation of all fraternity. Such discord disintegrates the constitutive relationships that each person maintains with oneself, with others and with reality. As  Pope Francis  also observed: “The best way to dominate and gain control over people is to spread despair and discouragement, even under the guise of defending certain values. Today, in many countries, hyperbole, extremism and polarization have become political tools” (Encyclical Letter  Fratelli Tutti ,, 15).

True joy frees us from such alienation — joy which faith rightly recognizes as a gift of the Holy Spirit. As Saint Paul wrote: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace” ( Gal  5:22). Indeed, joy intensifies life and leads to the creation of community: each person rejoices by putting to use his or her relational capacities, realizing one’s contribution to the common good and receiving recognition as a unique and worthy person within a community of growing encounters that enlarge the spirit. Joy knows how to carve paths even in the darkest zones of stagnation and hardship. Let us therefore examine our own hearts, dear friends, because without joy there is no renewal; without interiority there is no liberation; without encounter there is no politics; without the other there is no justice.

Together, you can make Angola a project of hope. The Catholic Church, whose service to the country I know you greatly esteem, desires to be leaven in the dough and to foster the growth of a just model of coexistence, free from the various forms of slavery imposed by the elite who are laden with much wealth but false joys. Only together can we multiply the talents of this wonderful people, even in the urban peripheries and the remotest rural areas, where life is vibrant and the future of the people is being prepared. Let us remove the obstacles to integral human development, working and hoping together alongside those whom the world has discarded but whom God has chosen. For thus our hope has arisen: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone” ( Ps  118:22), Jesus Christ, the fullness of man and of history.

May God bless Angola!

Thank you.

Today, on the aircraft that carried him to Angola, the Holy Father Leo XIV addressed the following words of greeting to those who accompanied him on the flight:

Leo XIV

Buongiorno. Bonjour. Good morning everyone. Good afternoon already. I hope you had a good time in Cameroon.  And, as you know of course, we are on our way now to Angola. 

On the one hand, the visit in Cameroon was very significant because in many ways it represents the heart of Africa, in many different ways, both English-speaking and French-speaking, around 250 local languages, ethnicities. 

At the same time, it has great wealth, great opportunity, but also the difficulty we find throughout Africa, so many times, of an unequal distribution of wealth. I was personally very pleased: as you know, we began the trip in Algeria with the theme of Saint Augustine, and  yesterday, at the Catholic University , there was the blessing of the beautiful monument that they had prepared with the map of Africa and Saint Augustine at the center. And so, in one sense, it expresses part of what this trip is about. 

And I primarily come to Africa as a pastor, as the head of the Catholic Church, to be with, to celebrate with, to encourage and accompany all of the Catholics throughout Africa. And yet there are, of course, other dimensions to the visit. I had a very fine meeting with a group of Imams in Cameroon to promote –- continue to promote, as we have done in other places already and as  Pope Francis  has done during his pontificate –– the dialogue, promotion of fraternity, through understanding, acceptance, peace-building with people of all faiths. 

At the same time, there has been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects, but because of the political situation created when, on the first day of the trip, the President of the United States made some comments about myself. Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary trying to interpret what has been said.  

Just one little example: the  talk that I gave at the prayer meeting for peace  a couple of days ago was prepared two weeks ago, well before the President ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting. And yet, as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the President, which is not in my interest at all. So we go on the journey, we continue proclaiming the Gospel message, and the text of the Gospel we have been using for the liturgies give a number of different, fantastic, beautiful aspects of what it is about to be Christian, of what it is about to follow Christ, of what it is about to promote fraternity, brotherhood, trusting in the Lord, but also looking for ways to promote justice in our world, promote peace in our world.  

So with that note, I am very happy to greet all of you, and thank you for the work that you are doing, and I hope that the Lord will continue to bless all of us on this trip. Thank you very much.  

Cameroon journalist [in French]:

A few words in French? Yes, thank you, thank you very much, Your Holiness, we just wanted to hear a few words from you in French, since Cameroon is bilingual. I work for Cameroon’s national television station. 

Leo XIV

I would just like to thank everyone in Cameroon for the wonderful welcome, the great enthusiasm, the joy of the people. It was absolutely fantastic. The experience of a faith community people who really discovered in the shared enthusiasm, if you will, how wonderful it is to experience what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ and to celebrate our faith together. And that enthusiasm was very much present in Cameroon. I am very happy to have had the experience and to accompany all of your people during these days.

Departure from Yaoundé and Farewell Ceremony

At 12.00 the Holy Father arrived at Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport, for the farewell ceremony from Cameroon, where he was received by the Prime Minister of Cameroon, His Excellency Mr. Joseph Dion Ngute.

After the national anthems, the Honour to the Flags, the passage of the Guard of Honour and the greeting of the respective delegations, Pope Leo XIV boarded an ITA Airways Airbus A330-900neo and departed at 12.47, bound for Angola.

The aircraft carrying the Holy Father landed at Luanda International Airport at 14.45 local time.

 

Telegram to the President of the Republic of Cameroon

Immediately after departure, Pope Leo XIV sent the following telegram to the President of the Republic of Cameroon:

 

Telegram

His Excellency Paul Biya

President of the Republic of Cameroon

Yaoundé

At the conclusion of my visit to Cameroon, I wish to express my profound gratitude to Your Excellency, the local authorities and all Cameroonians for the assistance and the many kind gestures of fraternity extended to me during these past days. As I now begin my Apostolic Journey to the Republic of Angola, I willingly invoke upon your country the divine blessings of peace and wisdom.

Leo PP. XIV

 

Telegrams to Heads of State during the flight from Yaoundé to Luanda

During the flight to Luanda, as the aircraft carrying the Holy Father flew over Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo, the Pope sent the following telegrams to the respective Heads of State:

 

Overflight Equatorial Guinea

His Excellency Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea

Ciudad de la Paz

I send greetings to Your Excellency and all in the Nation as I pass over the Republic of Equatorial Guinea on my Apostolic Journey to the Republic of Angola. In joyful anticipation of my upcoming visit to your country, be assured of my prayers that Almighty God may generously bless all of you with the gifts of solidarity and prosperity.

Leo PP. XIV

 

Overflight Gabon

His Excellency Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema

President of the Gabonese Republic

Libreville

As my Apostolic Journey to the Republic of Angola takes me over your country, I extend cordial greetings to Your Excellency and the people of the Gabonese Republic. Invoking the blessings of Almighty God upon the Nation, I pray that he may grant all of you wellbeing and fraternal solidarity.

Leo PP. XIV

 

Overflight Republic of the Congo

His Excellency Denis Sassou N’Guesso

President of the Republic of the Congo

Brazzaville

I extend good wishes to Your Excellency and your fellow citizens as I fly over the Republic of the Congo on my Apostolic Journey to the Republic of Angola. Praying that the Nation will be blessed with fraternity and peace, I willingly invoke abundant divine gifts upon you all.

Leo PP. XIV

After taking leave of the Apostolic Nunciature, at 8.00 local time, the Holy Father transferred by car to Yaoundé-Ville Airport for the votive Mass in honour of Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles.

At 9:30 local time, after making a tour of the faithful in the popemobile, the Pope presided over the Eucharistic celebration.

At 9.30 local time, after touring among the faithful by popemobile, the Pope presided over the Eucharistic celebration.

After the introductory rites and the liturgy of the Word, the Holy Father delivered his homily.

At the end of the Holy Mass, Archbishop Jean Mbarga of Yaoundé addressed some words of thanks to the Holy Father.

The Pope returned to the sacristy and then transferred by car to Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport for the farewell ceremony from Cameroon.

The following is the homily delivered by Pope Leo XIV during the celebration:

 

Homily of the Holy Father

Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you! It is the peace of Christ, whose presence illuminates our path and calms life’s storms.

We celebrate this Holy Mass at the conclusion of my visit in Cameroon, and I am very grateful for how you have welcomed me and for the moments of joy and faith which we have experienced together.

As we heard in the Gospel, faith does not spare us from tumult and tribulations. At times, it can seem that fear has the upper hand. However, we know that even in these moments, Jesus does not abandon us, just like he did not abandon the disciples on the Sea of Galilee.

Three of the four evangelists recount the episode proclaimed today, each in their own way, with a message suited for their intended audience. Saint Mark (cf. 6:45-52) narrates that the Lord comes to the disciples while they are struggling to row against the strong wind, which ceases as soon as Jesus climbs into the boat with them. Saint Matthew (cf. 14:22-33) adds a detail: Peter wants to go to the Lord by walking on the waves. Once he steps out of the boat, however, he lets himself be overcome by fear and he begins to sink. Christ takes him by the hand, saves him and rebukes him for his incredulity.

In Saint John’s version, which was proclaimed today (cf. 6:16-21), the Savior draws near to the disciples walking on the water and says: “It is I; do not be afraid” (v. 20). The evangelist emphasizes that “it was now dark” (v. 17). According to Jewish tradition, “water” with its depth and mystery, often calls to mind the netherworld, chaos, danger and death. Together with darkness, it evokes the forces of evil, which human beings by their own power are not able to dominate. At the same time, however, by remembering the miracles wrought in the exodus, water is understood as a place of passage, a crossing through which God powerfully frees his people from slavery.

Throughout the ages, the Church has navigated many storms and “strong winds.” We too can identify with the feelings of fear and doubt experienced by the disciples while crossing the lake of Tiberias. Such is our experience in moments when we seem to be sinking, overcome by adverse forces, when everything appears bleak and we feel alone and weak. But it is not so. Jesus is with us always, stronger than any power of evil. In every storm, he comes to us and repeats: “I am here with you: do not be afraid.” This is why we can get up again after every fall, not allowing ourselves to be stopped by any tempest. Rather we go forward always with courage and trust. And it is thanks to him that, as  Pope Francis  said, so many “men and women… who honor our people, who honor our Church… are strong in carrying forward their lives, their family, their work, their faith” ( Catechesis , 14 May 2014, 2).

Jesus draws near to us. He does not immediately calm the storm, but comes to us in the midst of the danger, and invites us, in our joys and sorrows, to remain together with him, like the disciples, in the same boat. He invites us not to distance ourselves from those who suffer, but to draw near to them, to embrace them. No one must be left alone to confront life’s adversities. For this reason, every community has the obligation to create and sustain structures of solidarity and mutual aid in which, when faced with crises –– be they social, political, medical or economic –– everyone can give and receive assistance according to their own capacity and needs. The words of Jesus, “it is I,” remind us that in a society founded on respect for human dignity, everyone’s contribution is valued as important and unique, regardless of the  status  or position that each one has in the eyes of the world.

The exhortation “do not be afraid,” then, takes on a broader meaning, even at a social and political level, as an encouragement to confront problems and challenges –– particularly those associated with poverty and justice –– together, with a sense of civic and civil responsibility. Faith does not separate the spiritual from the social. Indeed, it gives Christians the strength to interact with the world, responding to the needs of others, especially the weakest. The isolated efforts of individuals are not enough for the salvation of a community: instead, what is needed is a communal commitment, which integrates the spiritual and moral dimensions of the Gospel in the heart of local institutions and structures, making them instruments for the common good, and not places of conflict, self-interest or sterile struggles.

Today’s first reading (cf.  Acts  6:1-7) speaks about this. In this passage, we see how the Church confronts its first crisis concerning growth. The rapid increase in the number of disciples (v. 1) brings new challenges for the community in the exercise of charity, which the Apostles are no longer able to carry out by themselves. Some are overlooked in the distribution of food, and for this reason the grumbling grows and a sense of injustice threatens unity. Daily service to the poor was an essential practice in the early Church, meant to support the weakest, particularly widows and orphans. However, it was necessary to balance this service with the other compelling needs to preach and teach. A solution was not simple. The Apostles, then, gathered together and shared their concerns, discussing the matters in light of Jesus’ teaching. They united themselves in prayer in order to overcome the obstacles and misunderstandings that at first sight seemed insurmountable. Thus, they gave life to something new, choosing men of “good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” (v. 3) and appointing them, through the laying on of hands, to acts of service with a spiritual mission. Listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and being attentive to the cry of the suffering, they not only avoided division within the community, but they also equipped it with new instruments suitable to its growth, transforming a moment of crisis into an occasion of enrichment and development for everyone.

At times, family and societal life require the courage to change mindsets and structures, so that the dignity of the human person may always remain the primary focus and so that inequality and marginalization may be overcome. After all, God who became man identified himself with the least, and this makes the preferential care for the poor a fundamental part of our Christian identity (cf. Apostolic Exhortation  Evangelii Gaudium , 198; Apostolic Exhortation  Dilexi Te , 16-17).

Brothers and sisters, today we say farewell to each other. Each one returns to his or her occupation and the ship that is the Church continues on its course towards the final goal, thanks to the grace of God and the commitment of every person. Let us keep the memory of the beautiful moments that we have experienced together alive in our hearts. Even in the midst of difficulties, let us continue to make space for Jesus, allowing him to enlighten and renew us every day by his presence. The Church in Cameroon is alive, young, blessed with gifts and enthusiasm, energetic in its variety and magnificent in its harmony. With the help of the Virgin Mary, our Mother, may your joyful presence continue to blossom. And may the strong winds, which are never lacking in life, be an occasion for growth in the joyful service of God and your brothers and sisters through sharing, listening, praying and the desire to grow together.

____________________________________

Final Words of Gratitude of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV

Dear brothers and sisters, this celebration marks the conclusion of my visit to Cameroon. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Archbishop and to all the pastors of the Church in this country.

I renew my appreciation for the Civil Authorities and all those who helped prepare and organize this trip.

Thank you to everyone, especially the sick, the elderly and the nuns who offered their prayers.

People of God living and journeying in Cameroon, do not be afraid! Remain firmly united to Christ our Lord! With the power of his Spirit, you will be the salt and light of this land!

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Faenza-Modigliana, Italy

Appointment of bishop of Cabimas, Venezuela

 

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Faenza-Modigliana, Italy

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Faenza-Modigliana, Italy, presented by Bishop Mario Toso.

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Msgr. Michele Morandi, until now vicar general and rector of the seminary of the same see.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Michele Morandi was born on 30 March 1976 in Alfonsine, Ravenna, in the diocese of Faenza-Modigliana. After entering the Regional Minor Seminary of Bologna, he attended the Benedetto XV Regional Major Seminary in Bologna, obtaining a bachelor’s degree. He subsequently obtained a licentiate in theology of evangelization.

He was ordained a priest on 18 October 2003 for the diocese of Faenza-Modigliana.

He has held the following offices: deputy parish priest and parish administrator in various parishes (2003-2012), head of youth and vocational pastoral care (since 2004), vice rector of the diocesan seminary (2013-2015), and head of the Preparatory Community of the dioceses of Romagna (2008-2024). He is currently vicar general of the diocese (since 2016), rector of the diocesan seminary (since 2015), canon of the Cathedral and parish administrator in various parishes, to assist in situations of hardship caused by the earthquake and floods (since 2017).

 

Appointment of bishop of Cabimas, Venezuela

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Nicolás Gregorio Nava Rojas of Machiques as bishop of Cabimas, Venezuela.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop Nava Rojas was born on 8 December 1963 in Maracaibo, in the archdiocese of the same name. He was awarded a licentiate in theology and a licentiate in pedagogy in Caracas.

He was ordained a priest on 22 July 1989, and incardinated into the diocese of Cabimas.

He has held the following offices: parish priest of Saint Anthony of Padua , Nuestra Señora de Altagracia , and Santo Niño Jesús in Cabimas, head of vocational pastoral care, deputy administrative director and professor at the Caracas Major Seminary, diocesan bursar and head of diocesan missionary pastoral care, parish priest of Saint Anthony of Padua in El Consejo de Ziruma, head of the Convenio ME , professor at the Maracaibo Major Seminary and vicar general.

He was appointed bishop of Machiques on 19 October 2019, and received episcopal ordination on the following 14 December.