Pope Leo on Sunday urged Angolans to move beyond decades of division and conflict, addressing an estimated 100,000 people at a Mass held in a dirt field near the capital, Luanda.
Describing Angola as a “beautiful yet wounded country,” he called on citizens to work together to overcome longstanding rifts and build a more peaceful future. “Build a country where old divisions are overcome once and for all, where hatred and violence disappear,” he said.
At the conclusion of the Mass, the pope also turned to global conflicts, condemning the recent escalation in the Ukraine war and calling for an end to the fighting. He urged that “weapons fall silent” and emphasized the need for dialogue. He also welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, describing it as a “reason for hope.”
Worshippers began arriving before dawn at Kilamba, a large housing complex, enduring hot and humid conditions to attend the service. By the time the Mass began, the area was packed with crowds dancing and cheering as the pope passed through in his white popemobile.
Among those in attendance was Sister Christina Matende, who described the visit as a moment of joy amid ongoing hardships. “The pope coming here is a joy. We are living in a moment of a lot of difficulties,” she said.
Although Angola is one of sub-Saharan Africa’s leading oil producers, many of its 36.6 million people continue to face severe poverty, with more than 30% living on less than $2.15 a day, according to the World Bank. Over half the population identifies as Catholic.
The Mass was part of the pope’s four-nation tour of Africa. Angola is still recovering from a devastating 27-year civil war that lasted from 1975 to 2002.
