Pope Leo XIV has condemned exploitation, corruption and inequality during a visit to Angola’s diamond-rich northeast, warning that the wealth of nations is too often concentrated in the hands of a few while many remain in poverty.
Speaking on Monday, April 20, during an open-air Mass in Saurimo, the capital of Lunda Sul province, the pontiff said: “We can see today how the hope of many people is frustrated by violence, exploited by the powerful and defrauded by the rich.”
He added: “Consequently, when injustice corrupts hearts, the bread of all becomes the possession of a few.” The visit formed part of his ongoing 11-day tour of Africa, where he has consistently raised concerns about inequality, resource exploitation and governance. Saurimo lies near the Catoca mine, which produces about 75 percent of Angola’s diamonds, yet the region remains marked by poverty and underdevelopment.
Thousands of residents lined the streets to welcome the pope as he travelled through the city under tight security. Authorities estimated that about 40,000 people attended the Mass, with an additional 20,000 joining from surrounding areas.
Despite being one of Africa’s leading producers of oil and diamonds, Angola continues to face deep socio-economic challenges, with roughly a third of its population living below the World Bank poverty line.
Earlier in the day, Pope Leo visited a home for elderly people, many of whom have been abandoned or affected by violence. One resident, Antonio Joaquin, told him: “Your presence in this home is a blessing from God.”
The pope has maintained a strong tone throughout his African tour, previously criticising exploitation and tyranny during visits to Algeria and Cameroon. Over the weekend in Angola, he also addressed government
officials, including President Joao Lourenco, warning of the consequences of unchecked resource exploitation.
“How much suffering, how many deaths, how many social and environmental disasters are caused by this logic of exploitation?” he said.
In a separate Mass in Luanda attended by around 100,000 people, the pontiff urged the country to move beyond past divisions and tackle corruption. He called for “the scourge of corruption” to be healed “by a new culture of justice and sharing.”
Angola, which endured a 27-year civil war after gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, remains heavily influenced by religion, with about 44 percent of its population identifying as Catholic. Pope Leo XIV is expected to continue his visit in Angola by meeting clergy before travelling to Equatorial Guinea, the final stop of his African tour.