Pope Leo XIV urges unity in “wounded” Angola before massive crowds

Pope Leo XIV called on Angolans to overcome longstanding divisions following decades of conflict, delivering his message during a Mass near the capital and later at a historic site tied to the transatlantic slave trade. The two events together drew an estimated 130,000 people, Reuters reports.

Speaking at an open-air Mass in Kilamba, a vast housing development outside Luanda, the first US-born pontiff described Angola as a “beautiful yet wounded country,” referencing its 27-year civil war from 1975 to 2002. He urged citizens to “build together a country where old divisions are overcome once and for all, where hatred and violence disappear.”

Following the Mass, Leo traveled by helicopter to a Catholic shrine in Muxima, about 130 km southeast of the capital along the Kwanza River. The site, now a major pilgrimage destination, was originally constructed as part of a 16th-century Portuguese fortress central to the slave trade, which historians estimate forcibly sent around six million people from the region to the Americas.

Though the pope did not explicitly reference this history, he emphasized reconciliation and justice. “It is love that must triumph, not war!” he said, as crowds sang and danced in humid conditions while he was driven through in a white golf cart.

At the conclusion of the Kilamba Mass, Leo broadened his remarks to global conflicts. He denounced a recent escalation in the Ukraine war, calling “for the weapons to fall silent and for the path of dialogue to be followed.” He also welcomed a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, describing it as a “reason for hope.”

Thousands of worshippers had gathered from early morning to attend the Mass. Among them was Sister Christina Matende, who arrived at 6:00 a.m. “The pope coming here is a joy,” she said. “We are living in a moment of a lot of difficulties.”

Despite being one of sub-Saharan Africa’s leading oil producers, Angola continues to face deep economic challenges. According to the World Bank, more than 30% of its 36.6 million people live on less than $2.15 per day.

The visit marks the third leg of Leo’s four-nation African tour. Addressing political leaders a day earlier, he criticized the exploitation of natural resources and condemned “despots and tyrants” who promise prosperity but fail to deliver, resulting in suffering and loss of life. He urged leaders to prioritize the well-being of all citizens over corporate interests, adding, “History will then vindicate you, even if in the near term some may oppose you.”

For many attendees, the pope’s direct tone resonated. Anielka Caliata, 25, expressed appreciation for his message. “Our country needs a lot of this message and I think the pope will help us to think and reflect about that, knowing that all of us need to work together and do our best to have peace,” she said, standing with her fiancé and parents.

By Vafa Guliyeva