Mbanza kongo: The diocese of Mbanza Kongo has established two committees, each comprising 200 Catholic faithful from the province of Zaire, in preparation for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Angola in April 2026.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Father Malaquias Justino Andr© revealed that the first committee includes delegates from the parishes of Mbanza Kongo, Cuimba, N³qui, and Tomboco, while the second is made up of faithful from the municipalities of Soyo and Nzeto. The committees aim to facilitate the organization and coordination of activities related to the Pope’s visit.
Father Andr© explained that, in the initial phase, the coordinators of these committees will convene to develop a program. This program will be submitted to the Provincial Government to arrange logistics and transportation for the delegates traveling to the country’s capital. The visit by Pope Leo XIV, who is the highest figure in the Catholic Church, is seen as a significant event for Angola, symbolizing the recognition of the faith, hope, dedication, and maturity of Angolan Christians.
Pope Leo XIV’s visit, scheduled from April 18 to April 21, 2026, will include stops in the provinces of Luanda, Icolo e Bengo, and Lunda-Sul. This marks the third papal visit to Angola, following Pope John Paul II in 1992 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. During his visit in 1992, Pope John Paul II conducted a Eucharistic celebration in the historic Cathedral of Kulumbimbi in Mbanza Kongo.
