Pope Leo XIV condemns corruption, resource plunder during Yaounde Holy Mass on Africa tour

Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States, celebrated Holy Mass at Yaounde Ville Airport in Yaounde, Cameroon on April 18, 2026 - day six of his 11-day African tour. Addressing crowds, he condemned corruption and the plunder of Africa's resources by foreign interests, urging leaders to prioritize youth needs amid Angola's poverty despite oil wealth.

The pope's visit comes as Angola recovers from deadly protests over living costs and recent flooding that killed nearly 50 in Benguela region. After Cameroon, he'll meet Angola's President Lourenco, hold Mass in Kilamba (Luanda outskirts), visit Muxima pilgrimage site, and visit a Saurimo retirement home before proceeding to Equatorial Guinea - the final stop of his 18,000km journey that began in Algeria.

His increasingly forceful rhetoric, following public exchanges with US President Trump over Middle East policy, frames Africa's challenges as moral crises requiring urgent action from both local leaders and global powers.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/04/18/photos-crowd-as-pope-brings-africa-tour-to-angola/