Pope Leo Decries 'Despots' Exploiting Angola's Resources

Pontiff calls on Angolan leaders to prioritize people over corporate interests during Africa tour stop.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 10:05am

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During a speech in Angola, Pope Leo sharply criticized the exploitation of the country's natural resources by 'despots and tyrants' who make false promises of wealth but do not deliver, leading to suffering and deaths. The pope called on Angolans to work for a society free from the 'slavery imposed by the elite' and urged the country's political leaders to focus on helping all their people, not just corporate interests.

Why it matters

Pope Leo's forceful remarks in Angola highlight his growing outspokenness on issues of inequality, corruption, and environmental degradation during his Africa tour. As one of the leading oil-producing nations in sub-Saharan Africa, Angola's vast natural wealth has long been a source of conflict, with foreign companies and political elites benefiting while much of the population remains in extreme poverty.

The details

In his speech in the Angolan capital of Luanda, Pope Leo lamented that 'powerful interests lay their claim' on the former Portuguese colony's natural resources, an apparent reference to foreign companies profiting from Angola's oil, diamond, and critical minerals sectors. The pope decried the 'logic of extractivism' that has brought 'so much suffering, how many deaths, how many social and environmental disasters' to the country.

  • Pope Leo is on a 10-day Africa tour with stops in 11 cities and towns across four countries.
  • The pope's remarks in Angola came on the third stop of his tour, after visits to Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The players

Pope Leo

The current pope, originally from Chicago, who has become increasingly outspoken on issues of inequality, corruption, and environmental degradation during his Africa tour.

João Lourenço

The president of Angola, to whom Pope Leo delivered his remarks criticizing the exploitation of the country's natural resources.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president, with whom Pope Leo has clashed over various political and social issues.

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What they’re saying

“'All too often people have looked — and continue to look — to your lands … in order to take. How much suffering, how many deaths, how many social and environmental disasters are brought about by this logic of extractivism!'”

— Pope Leo, Pope

“'History will then vindicate you, even if in the near term some may oppose you.'”

— Pope Leo, Pope

What’s next

Pope Leo's Africa tour will continue with stops in Mozambique and South Africa over the next week.

The takeaway

Pope Leo's forceful remarks in Angola underscore his growing willingness to take on issues of social and economic injustice, particularly in resource-rich African nations where wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few while much of the population remains in poverty. His criticisms of 'despots and tyrants' who exploit natural resources for personal gain reflect the pope's broader vision for a more equitable and sustainable global order.