By Joshua McElwee
LUANDA, April 18 (Reuters) – Pope Leo travelled on Saturday to Angola, where he was expected to address exploitation of natural resources in the oil-rich country on the third leg of his four-nation Africa tour, during which he has taken on a new forceful speaking style.
Leo has been attacked repeatedly by U.S. President Donald Trump this week. But on the flight from Cameroon to Angola, he sought to downplay the feud, telling reporters that comments he made about “tyrants” were not directed at Trump and that it was not in the pope’s interest to debate him.
The first U.S. pope arrived in Luanda, Angola’s capital, shortly before 3 p.m. (1400 GMT).
Before leaving Cameroon, Leo celebrated a farewell Mass in the capital, Yaounde, urging participants not to lose hope despite the challenges faced by the Central African country, which include a simmering conflict in its two anglophone regions that has killed thousands.
“In moments when we seem to be sinking, overcome by adverse forces, when everything appears bleak … Jesus is with us always, stronger than any power of evil,” the pontiff told a crowd the Vatican estimated to number 200,000, which would make it the biggest event of his tour so far.
“In every storm, he comes to us and repeats: ‘I am here with you: do not be afraid’,” said Leo.
ANGOLA FACES POVERTY DESPITE OIL WEALTH
In Angola later on Saturday, the pope was due to meet President João Lourenço before addressing the country’s political leaders.
After decades of bloody conflict in the 20th century, Angola became one of the leading oil-producing nations in sub-Saharan Africa, with the sector accounting for some 95% of its exports.
Its population of 36.6 million people is still confronting extreme poverty, with more than 30% living on less than $2.15 per day, according to the World Bank.
More than half of the country identifies as Catholic.
Leo, originally from Chicago, kept a relatively low profile for a pope in his first 10 months. In Africa he has sharply denounced war, inequality and global leaders.
His Africa tour is one of the most complicated ever arranged for a pontiff, with stops in 11 cities and towns in four countries, traversing nearly 18,000 km (11,185 miles) over 18 flights.
Crowds greeting the pope on his visit to Cameroon were enthusiastic, including an estimated 120,000 people who attended a Mass on Friday in Douala, lining the streets along his routes and wearing colourful fabrics featuring images of his face.
(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Alex Richardson)
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