Pope Leo XIV marks one year since Francis’s death, praising his legacy of mercy and addressing Church growth and collaboration in Angola.
Newsroom (21/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) Flying over a region tied closely to one of Pope Francis’s most symbolic gestures, Pope Leo XIV paused to commemorate his predecessor, marking the first anniversary of Francis’s death with a reflection rooted in memory, mission, and continuity.
Speaking April 21 aboard an ITA Airways flight from Luanda, Angola, to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Leo XIV highlighted the enduring imprint of Francis’s pontificate, particularly his emphasis on mercy and human fraternity. The moment carried geographic and spiritual resonance: the aircraft passed not far from Bangui, where Francis in 2015 inaugurated the Jubilee of Mercy in a historic break from tradition.
Pope Francis, Leo said, “gave so much to the church with his life, his testimony, his words, and his gestures,” pointing especially to his closeness “to the poorest, to the smallest, to the sick, to the children, and to the elderly.” That witness, Leo added, remains a defining gift to both the Church and the wider world.
Central to that legacy was Francis’s consistent call for human fraternity. Leo recalled his predecessor’s efforts to promote “an authentic respect for all men and women,” grounded in the belief that all are “brothers and sisters.” This vision, he said, was not abstract but deeply rooted in the Gospel, urging the Church to embody a lived spirit of unity.
Leo also underscored Francis’s early and sustained focus on divine mercy and forgiveness, themes that emerged immediately after his election. From his first Angelus address to the Mass celebrated before his formal inauguration, Francis sought to center the Church’s message on God’s mercy—a commitment that culminated in the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.
That jubilee itself broke convention. Rather than opening the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis chose Bangui, in November 2015, signaling a shift toward the peripheries and elevating a region often overlooked. Leo recalled the moment as a powerful expression of Francis’s pastoral priorities.
“Let us pray that he is already enjoying the mercy of God,” Leo said. “And we thank the Lord for the great gift of Francis’s life for the entire church, and the entire world.”
After his tribute, the pontiff turned to present concerns, engaging with journalists traveling aboard the flight. Questions from Angolan reporters focused on the Church’s role in society, its leadership structure in Angola, and the rapid growth of Catholicism in the country.
On relations between Church and state, Leo emphasized cooperation while maintaining distinct roles. Both, he said, must “work together for the good of the whole population, but from different perspectives.” He noted recent discussions with Angola’s president, highlighting shared commitments to improving healthcare and education through new hospitals and schools.
“This is very important,” Leo said, stressing that the Church contributes not only through service but also through its moral voice—“with its witness, with its words,” and through proclaiming the Gospel in a way that affirms “the rights of everyone” and promotes “universal rights.”
Questions about ecclesiastical leadership revealed a cautious but open approach. Angola currently has no cardinal, and while Leo did not commit to an immediate appointment, he indicated the possibility in a future consistory, noting that such decisions must be considered “at the global level.”
At the same time, he expressed clear encouragement regarding the vitality of the Church in Angola. “There are other places in the world where the opposite is happening,” he observed, contrasting decline elsewhere with growth in the country.
That growth, he said, brings both opportunity and responsibility. Evangelization must continue, but not as proselytism. Echoing Francis, Leo emphasized attraction over coercion: “the beauty and attraction of the faith” and “the joy of believers” as the most effective witness to the Gospel.
Institutionally, the expansion of the Church in Angola may require structural changes. Leo pointed to the role of local bishops and the papal nuncio in proposing new dioceses and appointing additional bishops, ensuring greater pastoral proximity “for the good of the people.”
As the flight continued toward Equatorial Guinea, Leo’s remarks wove together remembrance and forward vision—honoring a predecessor whose emphasis on mercy reshaped the Church’s tone, while addressing the practical realities of a growing and evolving Catholic presence in Africa.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now
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