Pope Leo XIV Condemns Authoritarianism and Wealth Concentration During Angola Visit

Pope Leo XIV delivered his most politically charged address of his African tour on Monday, April 20, 2026, denouncing exploitation, authoritarianism, and the concentration of wealth during a mass in Saurimo, the capital of Angola's diamond-rich Lunda Sul province, before an estimated 60,000 faithful gathered on an open esplanade. The American-born pontiff told the crowd that violence and oppression stand in direct contradiction to the Christian message, declaring that no person was born to live under subjugation. The mass marked the third and final full day of Leo XIV's stay in Angola, the third stop of a ten-day African tour spanning four countries and 11 cities.

„We have not come into the world to die. We were not born to become slaves neither to the corruption of the flesh, nor to that of the soul: every form of oppression, violence, exploitation, and lies denies the resurrection of Christ, the supreme gift of our freedom.” — Pope Leo XIV via Europa Press

Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and subsequently endured a civil war that lasted until 2002. The country holds some of Africa's largest diamond reserves, concentrated in the northeastern provinces of Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul. Despite significant natural resource wealth, Angola continues to face deep structural inequality, with large portions of its population living in poverty. Approximately 80 percent of Angola's population identifies as Christian, with roughly half identifying as Catholic, according to reporting by Publico.

Wealth concentration in diamond heartland draws papal rebuke Leo XIV's homily in Saurimo carried explicit social and economic criticism directed at the region's extractive economy and its failure to distribute benefits equitably. Speaking in the heart of Angola's diamond industry, the pontiff warned that injustice corrodes the foundations of communal life.

„When injustice corrupts hearts, the bread of all becomes the property of a few.” — Pope Leo XIV via RFI

He stated that "many of the people's desires are frustrated by the violent, exploited by tyrants, and deceived by wealth," using the word "tyrants" for the third time during the African trip, following earlier speeches in Algeria and Cameroon, according to RFI. Leo XIV also cautioned against a utilitarian relationship with faith, warning that authentic belief must not be replaced by what he called "a superstitious commerce in which God becomes an idol sought only when He serves us." He challenged the faithful to examine whether their adherence to Christ was grounded in love or in calculation, and called for a faith expressed through solidarity and justice rather than self-interest. The city of Saurimo, composed largely of neighborhoods of mud houses and aluminum-sheet roofing, provided a stark backdrop for the pontiff's critique of wealth concentration in resource-rich territories. According to Deutsche Welle, the address went beyond the religious sphere and raised social, economic, and political questions about the region's extractive logic and its elites.

Elderly shelter visit places dignity at center of papal agenda Before the mass, Leo XIV made his first engagement in Lunda Sul at a shelter center for the elderly, where he called for older people to be treated not merely as recipients of care but as active bearers of collective memory and wisdom. The center currently accommodates 74 (residents) — elderly people housed at the Saurimo shelter, aged 60 to 93, the majority of whom are in situations of family abandonment, according to SAPO. Some residents had been accused of witchcraft by family members who subsequently abandoned them, according to Vatican News as cited by Europa Press. The director of the residence, Georgina Mwandumba, described the center as founded to protect elderly people in situations of social risk who have suffered domestic violence and require family-style care. Leo XIV praised the efforts of Angolan authorities, volunteers, and professionals involved in supporting the elderly, and said the treatment given to the most fragile reflects the degree of social and institutional maturity of a nation.

„They keep the wisdom of a people and must be listened to. We must be grateful to them for the path they opened for the benefit of the community.” — Pope Leo XIV via SAPO

The pontiff said he was visibly moved upon learning that residents refer to the space as a "home," evoking the family dimension the word carries. Before departing, he entrusted the community to the protection of the Virgin Mary and wished those present peace.

Africa tour nears end as Equatorial Guinea awaits on Tuesday Leo XIV's Angola visit represents the third stage of an ambitious ten-day African tour, covering almost 18,000 kilometers across 18 flights, described by Publico as one of the most complex ever undertaken by a pope. The pontiff, who maintained a relatively low profile during the first ten months of his pontificate, has adopted a markedly more direct speaking style during the African trip, repeatedly criticizing world leaders without naming them. He told journalists on Sunday that the speeches were written weeks in advance and were not directly targeting United States President Donald Trump, though his comments have reportedly provoked irritation from the American president, according to Publico. Leo XIV has also harshly criticized the United States and Israel's military strikes on Iran, which began on February 28, 2026. On Saturday, he denounced the exploitation of African natural resources by "despots and tyrants," and on the preceding Thursday he stated that the world was "being devastated by a handful of tyrants." On Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the pontiff is scheduled to depart Angola for Equatorial Guinea, the final stop of the African tour, where he will meet with President Teodoro Obiang and deliver a speech to the country's political leaders. Equatorial Guinea has faced widespread international criticism over human rights abuses and corruption, accusations its government denies.

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