PONTIFICATE OF LEON XIV: WISHES AND EXPECTATIONS FROM AFRICA

The Catholic Church in Africa and its islands gave a very warm welcome to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, elected Pope Leo XIV on Thursday 8 May by the 133 cardinal electors at the conclave organised after the death of Pope Francis on 21 April. How did the Church in Africa welcome the election of the 267th Pope, who inaugurated his pontificate at the Vatican on Sunday 18 May? Here are some reactions, wishes and expectations.

His Eminence Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa (DR Congo), President of SECAM

The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), united with the whole Church-Family of God in Africa and its islands, joyfully joins the universal Church in giving thanks to God for the gift of our new Supreme Pontiff, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV… We trust that Pope Leo XIV’s pastoral wisdom and evangelical zeal will strengthen the Church’s commitment to justice, peace and human dignity, especially among the poor, the marginalised and those who suffer the consequences of conflict, inequality and neglect.

The Church in Africa reaffirms its full communion and fraternal collaboration with Pope Leo XIV. We stand ready to work alongside him in addressing the pressing challenges facing our communities, including: conflict, the fight against poverty, education, health care, inter-religious dialogue and the care of creation.

(Extract from the SECAM Message signed by Card. Ambongo on May 9)

Most Rev. Benoît Alowonou, Bishop of Kpalimé, President of the Togo Bishops’ Conference

My first reaction, I would say a happy surprise: it’s the wink of God’s love manifesting itself in ‘the hidden mystery of his plan of choice’. God knew in his plan of love that Christ’s vicar would be Cardinal Robert Prévost. What God had hidden from the prognosticators, he revealed to the world in St Peter’s Square. God always gives his Church the Shepherd it needs to feed its flock according to the times and the socio-political life of the world.

A Pope comes from the Church for the Church and not from a country or a continent or a race for the Universal Church. Africa hopes that, in the continuity of the Petrine mission of previous popes, Pope Leo XIV, together with the Roman Curia, will always be the voice of Africa to the continent’s leaders and above all to the war-makers who live outside the continent and who continue to appropriate Africa as their property and field with the tacit complicity of certain local political and financial leaders.

(Extract, conversation, May 9)

Archbishop Zolile Peter Mpambani, 1st Deputy President of the South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC)

The South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) extends its sincere congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church…

The SACBC pledges its unfailing support and assures Pope Leo XIV of its constant prayers. Recognising the challenges that lie ahead, the Bishops pray that the Holy Father will place his trust in the Lord who has chosen him and promises to be with him always.

The Bishops pray that God will grant him the wisdom, courage and strength to sow the seeds of peace of which he spoke in his first words as Pope.

(Extract, Message of 8 May)

Most Rev. Isaac-Jogues Gaglo, Bishop of Aného, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Lomé, Togo

It was with great joy and a feeling of deep gratitude to God that I welcomed the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. His first message is strongly marked by a wish for peace in all hearts; peace for all peoples and for the whole earth.

Africa is a continent with many challenges, including that of peace. The Church in Africa tries to support all peace initiatives on the continent. That’s why we are very sensitive to this message of peace.

The Church in Africa is overflowing with dynamism, vivacity, youth and deep faith with its cultural specificities. We hope that Pope Leo XIV, guided by the Holy Spirit, will be attentive to this in his pastoral vision and in his governance of the universal Church.

(Extract, conversation, May 10)

Most Rev. Donatien N’shole, General Secretary of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), DR Congo

It was a joy to hear the first words of the Pope (Leo XIV), which conveyed the need for peace in the world. And for us Congolese, this message should comfort us.

What we expect from him is to continue the language of Pope Francis, and to pay particular attention to bringing about lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

(Extract, interview, May 8)

Most Rev. Dominique Banléne Guigbile, Bishop of Dapaong, Togo

Clearly, the Holy Father is following in the footsteps and spirit of his distant predecessor Leo XIII whose encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891) made him the Pope of the Church’s Social Doctrine. Leo also follows in the footsteps of his immediate predecessor Francis, the Pope of the poor, of migrants, of those left behind, of the peripheries, defender of the environment and of the earth, our common home.

The new Pope’s Augustinian spiritual journey and rich missionary experience have providentially prepared and equipped him to meet these challenges.

Pope Leo XIV embodies the hope of a synodal missionary Church, servant of the poor, faithful to the Gospel, free and rooted in faith. God help him!

(Extract, conversation, May 10)

Most Rev. Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, Bishop of Tombura-Yambio, South-Sudan

The election of Pope Leo XIV is grace upon grace for us… History teaches us that the papacy is not shaped by human calculations, but by divine design. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, may not have been at the top of prediction lists, but he always guided hearts – with humility, deep missionary roots and a Christ-centred pastoral presence. His election reminds us that God sees further and deeper than we ever could.

(Extract, Interview, May 9)

Most Rev. Moïse Touho, Bishop of Atakpamé, Togo

When the election of Pope Leo XIV was announced, I was very moved and I thanked God for having given us him as the Successor of Saint Peter.

His election took place, providentially, in the Holy Year, the year of the Jubilee under the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. And during the Easter season, when we commemorate the Risen Christ, sign of our hope and source of life, who sends us out to proclaim the good news. May our new Pope be a pilgrim of hope and help us to be pilgrims too, as missionaries following Christ.

(Extract, conversation, May 10)

Most Rev. Marie Fabien Raharilamboniaina, Bishop of Morondava and President of the Conférence épiscopale de Madagascar (CEM)

Pope Leo XIV’s first words, ‘Peace be with you’, set the tone for his pontificate: building bridges between countries and peoples.

We are certain that the new Pope will plead for the people, defend the people and bring the people together (…) He chose the name Pope Leo XIV to follow in a tradition of strength, unshakeable faith and courageous leadership.

(Extract, interview, May 9)

Fr. Rafael Simbine Junior, Secretary General of SECAM

With joy and reverence, the Catholic Church across Africa warmly welcomes Pope Leo XIV, the Supreme Pontiff. The pastors and faithful on the continent are profoundly grateful to God for this new Pope, and they pray that his papacy may be blessed with wisdom, strength, and compassion (…).

In this context, Africa, a continent facing numerous challenges such as poverty, inequality, conflicts, environmental degradation, and social injustices, welcomes Pope Leo XIV with hope and joy. The faithful trust that he will inspire renewed efforts in evangelization, empowering local churches to be beacons of hope and agents of transformation. They also pray that his leadership will foster greater unity among Christian communities in Africa and promote dialogue among different faiths and cultures, helping to build bridges of understanding, peace, and reconciliation.

(Editorial Extract, SECAM News, April-May 2025)

Fr. Kwaku Nathè Joseph Amegbleame, theologian, Togo

The Holy Spirit always accompanies the Church. The choice of the new Pope is a work of God and a work of men. From a historical point of view, I can add this: when a palm tree dies, another palm tree grows in its place (Ashanti proverb).

As for the challenges, you’ve touched on an essential point of the name Leo. Leo XIII was a Pope who worked hard for a world of Justice and Peace. If Cardinal Prevost chose this name, it was to continue the apostolate of Leo XIII and of course of his predecessors.

(Extract, conversation, May 9)

Fr. Léonard Amossou Katchekpele, theologian, Togo

When the election of Pope Leo XIV was announced, I felt great joy.  I’m happy for the Pope, I’m happy for the Church, I’m reassured by the choice of cardinals. But I’m also pleased to see that all the expert prognosticators got it so wrong.

I wish Pope Leo XIV patience and a presence by our side, a presence by the side of the people.

(Extract, conversation, May 9)

Marc Kangni-Dossou, faithful Catholic, Togo

By choosing the name Leo XIV, in reference to Leo XIII, the new Pope probably wanted to send out a message: to breathe new life (thinking of the famous encyclical letter Rerum Novarum) into the Church of Christ under the influence of the Holy Spirit. May this Spirit, who prompted his peers to choose him on the second day of the Conclave, assist him and help him to lead the Church along new paths without cutting ties with the centuries-old tradition of this Mater & Magistra Church. In other words, the new Pope must know how to combine tradition and modernity to enable the Church to effectively meet the challenges it faces today.

I hope that Pope Leo XIV will work to ease internal tensions in the Church and extinguish the sources of conflict in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and throughout the world.

(Extract, conversation, May 9)

SECAM News