In a landmark visit to Angola on Saturday, April 18, 2026, Pope Leo XIV delivered one of the most forceful condemnations of resource exploitation ever made by a pontiff on African soil.
Speaking at an event in Luanda, the pope condemned what he called the “logic of extractivism” — a system that he said guarantees wealth for a few while condemning millions of Africans to poverty and environmental destruction.
The pope said, addressing thousands of faithful and government officials: “In Angola, as across this great continent, we see treasures that cannot be bought or taken away — the richness of our land, the resilience of our people. But these same treasures have all too often become a curse, exploited by despots and tyrants who guarantee wealth for themselves while leaving the people in suffering.”
The pope’s comments represent a significant escalation in the Vatican’s stance on economic justice in Africa. During his first year in office, Pope Leo has positioned himself as a sharp critic of global inequality and environmental degradation driven by extractive industries.
A personal connection to Africa
This visit marks the pontiff’s first trip to sub-Saharan Africa. Earlier in his tour, he visited Cameroon, where he celebrated a Mass attended by hundreds of thousands. The Angola leg has drawn intense attention given the country’s own history with oil and diamond wealth that has coexisted with widespread poverty.
President João Lourenço met with the pope at the presidential palace, where both leaders discussed the country’s social and economic challenges. The pope explicitly called on Angolan leaders to “remove the obstacles to integral human development” — a phrase widely interpreted as a reference to corruption, mismanagement, and the concentration of natural resource revenues among a small elite.
The global context
The timing of the visit is significant. Africa is experiencing a renewed wave of interest from global powers seeking to secure critical minerals and rare earth elements essential for the green energy transition. Pope Leo’s condemnation of extractivism appears designed to resonate with African governments negotiating new deals with global powers.
Africa represents one of the last major growth regions for Christianity globally, and the Catholic Church has been expanding rapidly across the continent. The pope’s visit is expected to strengthen ties between the Vatican and African governments while also providing a platform to address challenges facing the continent’s youth.