In Angola, the Pope calls for "hope" before 100,000 faithful

Some 100,000 faithful attended a giant open-air mass near the Angolan capital Luanda on Sunday morning, celebrated by Pope Leo XIV, who called for "hope" on the second day of his visit to the Portuguese-speaking country marked by strong economic and social inequalities.

Upon his arrival in Angola, the third stop on an 11-day African tour, the pontiff denounced the "suffering" and "social and environmental catastrophes" caused by the "logic of exploitation" of the country's resources, rich in oil and minerals.

This speech illustrates the more assertive style adopted by Leo XIV since the start of his African tour, a few days after being violently criticized by Donald Trump.

On Sunday morning, a large crowd gathered in Kilamba, about 30 kilometers from Luanda, to attend a giant open-air mass celebrated by the Pope. Many had slept on the ground there, wearing T-shirts bearing the image of the American pope or waving yellow and white Vatican flags.

After a walkabout in the popemobile through the walkways of the esplanade, the pope invited, in his homily, people to "look towards the future with hope".

"We can and we want to build a country where old divisions will be definitively overcome, where hatred and violence will disappear, where the scourge of corruption will be cured by a new culture of justice and sharing," he declared.

An appeal deemed necessary because in the country, "wealth is concentrated in the hands of a very small minority, and of course, the war we experienced (1975-2002) only aggravated the situation," Father Pedro Chingandu, an Angolan priest who arrived early on the scene, told AFP.

"We need a true democracy, a redistribution of wealth and justice," he added.

- "National reconciliation" -

Patricio Musanga, 32, with a white cap bearing the image of Leo XIV screwed onto his head, is waiting for "a message of hope for the youth", but also of "national reconciliation", "peace" and "interculturality".

For this Congolese man who became a naturalized Angolan citizen and has lived in Luanda for 10 years, this message "can really be useful for all of Africa, because practically in all countries, the problems are the same," starting with "the lack of employment" among young people, on which "the Pope must challenge our leaders."

After John Paul II (1978-2005) in 1992 and Benedict XVI (2005-2013) in 2009, Leo XIV is the third sovereign pontiff to visit this country, a former Portuguese colony which became independent in 1975.

In the afternoon, he will travel by helicopter to the Marian shrine of Muxima, about 130 km from the capital, which has become the center of Catholicism in southern Africa.

Perched on the banks of the Kwanza River, its church of Our Lady of Muxima attracts approximately two million pilgrims a year.

They come to see a statue of the Virgin Mary affectionately called Mama Muxima, who, according to legend, appeared in this place.

Authorities expect up to 300,000 faithful for the papal visit.

The Portuguese colonists of Angola built the church in 1599, also erecting a fortress on a hill overlooking the river. According to religious leaders, its purpose was to baptize slaves before their transatlantic crossing to the Americas.

- "Asymmetries" -

Approximately one-third of Angola's population lives below the international poverty line of $2.15 a day, according to the World Bank.

"The Pope comes to Angola fully aware of the reality our country faces, particularly in terms of deep social asymmetries and inequalities, which also stem from an unequal distribution of wealth," said Catholic lawyer Domingos das Neves.

Angola was the scene of three days of protests in July 2025, accompanied by looting, against the high cost of living. Around thirty people were killed and hundreds arrested, with human rights organizations denouncing the authorities' disproportionate use of force.

Analysts believe these disturbances reflect discontent with the MPLA, the party that has been in power since independence in 1975. The MPLA won the last elections in 2022 with 51% of the vote. The next elections are scheduled for 2027.

AFP