‘Speaking fearlessly’: Pope Leo’s Africa Trip

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry O’Connell gives Colleen Dulle an inside look at Pope Leo XIV’s visit to four African countries. Between speaking out against corruption in Cameroon, denouncing inequality in Angola and visiting a prison in Equatorial Guinea, Gerry notes that Pope Leo never strayed from his central message of peace and justice—even when a Truth Social post from U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to overshadow it.

0:00 Intro

1:02 Why did Pope Leo go to Africa?

5:20 Pope Leo visits the basilica of Augustine

10:00 Pope Leo’s messages to Algeria

14:57 Pope denounces corruption in Cameroon

22:40 Leo visits conflict zone in Cameroon

27:10 Leo urges church to speak out in Angola

31:07 Angola’s unequal economy

34:44 Equatorial Guinea gives Leo ‘colorful welcome’

36:49 Pope Leo’s memorable prison visit

41:47 Pope Leo in-air press conference

47:41 Outro and credits

Links:

Pope Leo walks in the footsteps of St. Augustine in Hippo (americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/04/1…)

Pope Leo to Cameroon’s leaders: Break the ‘chains of corruption,’ invest in young people (americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/04/1…)

Pope Leo denounces those who use the name God for military gain (americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/04/1…)

Interview: Jesuit provincial on what Pope Leo’s visit meant for Cameroon (americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/04/2…)

Pope Leo: I am ‘not trying to debate the president’ (americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/04/1…)

Pope Leo tells Angola’s Catholic leaders: ‘Never cease to denounce injustices.’ (americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/04/2…)

Pope Leo calls on leaders to ‘bridge the gap’ between poor and rich in Equatorial Guinea (americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/04/2…)

Asked about regime change in Iran, Pope Leo says, ‘I cannot be in favor of war.’ (americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/04/2…)

Pope Leo speaks on same-sex blessings, migration and more on plane back to Rome (americamagazine.org/vatican-dispatch/2026/04/2…)

Pope Leo prays with Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally in historic encounter, vows dialogue (americamagazine.org/news/2026/04/27/pope-leo-p…)

Follow Gerry on X: @gerryorome (x.com/gerryorome)

Follow Colleen on Instagram: @colleendulle (instagram.com/colleendulle)

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