James O'Reilly
Today, the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Catherine of Siena—patron saint of Europe and Italy, and she is a co-patron of the city of Rome. Pope Leo XIV entered St. Peter's Square to the sound of music and flags from Tuscany, where St. Catherine was from.
Almost a week after returning from his papal tour through parts of Africa, Pope Leo offered a brief recap of what his third apostolic journey to the countries of Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea meant to him.
POPE LEO XIV
In Algeria, at the start of the journey, I was able to return to the spiritual roots linked to Saint Augustine and, at the same time, strengthen important bridges—with the tradition of the Church fathers, as well as with the Islamic world and the African continent. In Cameroon, I renewed the call for reconciliation, justice, and integral development in the face of challenges such as inequality and violence.
After seeing the reality of the Church across various regions of Africa, the pope recalled one of the most memorable moments of his trip, which left a lasting impression on him.
POPE LEO XIV
I cannot forget what happened in the prison of Bata, in Equatorial Guinea: the inmates sang at the top of their lungs a song of thanksgiving to God and to the Pope, asking him to pray “for their sins and their freedom.” I had never seen anything like it.
Pope Leo also offered words of welcome and encouragement to Arabic-speaking pilgrims, especially those visiting from Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria, and who are suffering from the conflict throughout the Middle East.
POPE LEO XIV
The Christian is called to trust in God, especially in moments of weakness and concern, because with Him we are in peace and security.
The pope's schedule for the next few months includes consecutive trips; the soonest one will be on May 8, when he visits Naples and Pompeii, marking the first anniversary of his papacy.
