Pope Leo XIV Apologizes for Church Role in Slavery, Begins 10-Day Africa Tour

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria on June 22, 2026, kicking off a 10-day tour across four African nations. It is the first time a pope has visited Algeria.

Before departing Rome, the pope issued a formal apology for the Catholic Church's role in the transatlantic slave trade. In a written statement, he said the Church must face its history with honesty and humility. He did not offer a specific plan for reparations but called for continued dialogue.

The Africa tour includes stops in Algeria, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa. Vatican officials said the trip is meant to highlight the continent's spiritual vitality and its ongoing struggles with poverty, conflict, and displacement.

In Algeria, Pope Leo XIV met with President Tebboune and visited a memorial honoring Catholic missionaries killed during the country's civil war in the 1990s. He also held an open-air Mass attended by thousands of Catholics from across North Africa.

The pope's encyclical on slavery, released earlier this year, drew both praise and criticism. Some African bishops welcomed the apology as long overdue. Others said words must be followed by concrete action from the Vatican.

The tour continues through July 1. It is the pope's first major overseas trip since taking office.