Pope Leo XIV plans visits to Algeria, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea in Africa for 2026, alongside potential trips to Latin American nations Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru, after concluding his first international tour to Turkey and Lebanon.
Pope Leo XIV revealed during a press conference aboard the papal plane that he hopes to make Africa his next overseas destination in 2026, with a personal interest in visiting Algeria to explore places associated with Saint Augustine. “I hope to make a trip to Africa, which could be my next trip. Personally, I hope to go to Algeria to visit the places from the life of Saint Augustine,” he said.
According to the Vatican, the journey could also include Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The 70-year-old pontiff, elected in May and a member of the Augustinian Order, also expressed interest in visiting Latin America, including Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru, where he served as a missionary for over 20 years. He highlighted that such a visit would help foster dialogue and bridge-building between Christian and Muslim communities, noting that “the figure of Saint Augustine plays an important role as a bridge because in Algeria he is highly respected as a son of the nation.”