At his final public gathering in Angola, Pope Leo XIV urged both authorities and citizens to follow the risen Lord, emphasizing a path that leads humanity toward sanctification and renewal.
Celebrating Mass in Saurimo before departing for Equatorial Guinea, the Pope called on the faithful to focus not on material needs, but on spiritual nourishment.
He encouraged Angolans “not to work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life.”
Reflecting on human purpose, the pontiff stressed that life is not meant for destruction or bondage. “We did not come into the world to die, nor were we born to become slaves to the corruption of the flesh or the soul,” he said.
He strongly denounced oppression, violence, exploitation, and dishonesty, warning that such acts contradict the message of Christ’s Resurrection, which he described as “the supreme gift of our freedom.”
Pope Leo XIV further explained that liberation from death is not only a promise for the end of life, but something to be experienced daily through faith and righteous living.
He concluded his message by urging the people of Angola to overcome divisions and corruption, highlighting the importance of unity during his landmark African tour.
The Pope arrived in the Portuguese-speaking nation on Saturday as part of the third leg of a four-country visit to Africa. The tour began in Algeria and Cameroon, and will conclude in Equatorial Guinea.
By Newsroom
20th April 2026
