Pope Leo arrives in Angola meeting the president and praying for the flood victims and those displaced
發佈日期: 2026-04-19 21:18
TVB News
Pope Leo XIV sought to downplay his feud with U.S. President Donald Trump. The pontiff said comments he made earlier in Cameroon decrying that the world was being "ravaged by a handful of tyrants" were not aimed at Trump.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo arrived in Angola on Saturday with a message of encouragement for its long-suffering people.
Pope Leo was greeted on his arrival in Angola's capital Luanda by two young girls presenting him with gifts and flowers. Welcome your Holiness. Followed by Angolan President Joao Lourenco shaking the pope's hand then walking down a red carpet together. Next they stood for an honour guard. Lourenco and the Pope held talks before heading to the presidential palace on the pope mobile the pope waving to waiting crowds. Many running along side him.
Many young people waited outside for him Jose Lemos, a Catholic faithful said "The priest's arrival brought a sign of happiness to all Angolans." Also waiting outside the palace as the pope arrived was President Lourenco and Ana Dias Lourenco.
Inside the palace the Angolan president welcomed Pope Leo in front of an audience of government officials and diplomats.
Then Pope Leo spoke saying he was honoured to be in the country offering assurance of his prayers for the victims of the heavy rains and floods that struck the province of Benguela and expressed his closeness to the families who lost their homes.
He also referred repeatedly to Angola's tortured history of colonial plunder of the oil and mineral rich country and its civil war.
He also clarified during his visit to Angola that his speech earlier this week criticising tyrants for spending billions on wars was not to do with US President Donald Trump.
Angola's population of around 38 million, gained independence from Portugal in 1975 but still bears the scars of a devastating civil war that began straight after independence raging on for 27 years before ending in 2002.
The pope led a mass on Sunday in the Angolan city of Kilamba. Leo's visit to Angola marked the third leg of his four-nation African trip.
