Pope Leo XIV has urged Angola’s leaders to break what he described as “extractivism,” warning that Africa has long been exploited for its natural resources at the expense of its people.
Speaking during his visit to the southern African nation on Saturday, the pontiff said the continent continues to suffer from a system that prioritises resource extraction over human dignity and sustainable development.
“How much suffering, how many deaths, how many social and environmental disasters are brought about by this logic of extractivism,” he said.
The Pope’s visit to Angola, a major oil- and mineral-producing country, marks the third stop in his four-nation African tour. Angola is one of the continent’s largest oil producers and also ranks among the world’s leading diamond exporters.
During his arrival, Pope Leo XIV met with President João Lourenço and delivered his first address to government officials, reflecting on Angola’s colonial past and post-independence struggles.
He referenced the country’s history of exploitation under colonial rule and the long civil war that followed independence from Portugal in 1975, which lasted until 2002 and left hundreds of thousands dead.
“I desire to meet you in the spirit born of peace and to affirm that your people possess treasures that cannot be bought or stolen,” the Pope said. “There dwells within you a joy that not even the most adverse circumstances have been able to extinguish.”
Angola, with a population of about 38 million, remains one of Africa’s most resource-rich countries, holding vast reserves of oil, diamonds, gold, and critical minerals. However, wealth distribution remains highly unequal.
According to the World Bank, more than 30% of Angolans were living on less than $2.15 a day as of 2023, highlighting persistent poverty despite natural resource abundance.
The Pope warned that Angola’s resources have historically attracted foreign interests that “give, or more commonly, take,” reinforcing cycles of underdevelopment.
His remarks also touched on broader global tensions, including ongoing discussions with Donald Trump over international conflicts, though he emphasised that his focus remains on promoting peace, justice, and solidarity.
Angola’s civil war, which followed independence from Portugal, was heavily influenced by Cold War rivalries, with external powers supporting opposing factions. The conflict devastated infrastructure and delayed national development for decades.
Today, despite economic growth driven largely by oil exports, Angola continues to face challenges including inequality, unemployment, and limited access to basic services in rural areas.
The Pope’s message called for a shift away from resource exploitation toward inclusive development that prioritises human dignity and long-term stability.
Observers say his visit underscores the Vatican’s continued focus on Africa as a key region for discussions on inequality, development, and global justice.
