Pope Leo XIV will recite the Rosary at Angola's Church of Our Lady of Muxima on Sunday, a site intertwined with the trans-Atlantic slave trade and colonial history. This visit holds particular significance for African Catholics, offering a chance to redefine a place once central to human exploitation, according to Rev. Celestino Epalanga of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Angola. The pontiff's own recently revealed heritage, linking him to both enslaved people and slave owners, adds another layer to the complex pilgrimage.
Preparations for Pope Leo XIV’s arrival have transformed the dusty roads leading to Muxima, a small town on the Kwanza River. Workers have set up stages near the white-walled church, a structure that has witnessed centuries of human suffering and faith. Murals of the pontiff now adorn buildings in Luanda, Angola's capital.
The scene reflects a nation grappling with its past and future, anticipating a message of reconciliation and justice. The Church of Our Lady of Muxima, built by Portuguese colonizers at the close of the 16th century, was originally part of a fortress complex. This location served a dual purpose: a military outpost and a crucial hub in the burgeoning trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Here, enslaved Africans, forcibly removed from their homes, were gathered for baptism by Portuguese priests. They were then compelled to walk the last 145 kilometers (90 miles) to Angola’s main port of Luanda, where ships awaited to transport them across the ocean to the Americas. This path, a brutal march forced upon millions, remains etched in the historical memory of Angola.
Each step represented a severing of ties, a journey into the unknown. The numbers on the shipping manifest tell the real story of this human tragedy. More than 5 million people departed from Angola on the trans-Atlantic slave route, a higher figure than any other country.
This accounts for nearly half of the approximately 12.5 million African individuals sent across the ocean. These colossal figures underscore the scale of human suffering rooted in this region. Portuguese colonizers were emboldened by 15th-century directives from the Vatican itself, which authorized them to enslave non-Christians.
The Church, therefore, was not merely a passive observer but an active participant in a system of immense cruelty. This historical reality presents a difficult truth for the Catholic Church today. Yet, this same church in Muxima later became a popular Catholic shrine.
Believers reported an appearance by the Virgin Mary around 1833, transforming the site’s spiritual meaning for many. This shift from a place of exploitation to one of veneration highlights the complex interplay of faith, suffering, and redemption in the Angolan experience. Rev.
Celestino Epalanga, a priest with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Angola, expressed hope for this new meaning. "For me, the pope going there to pray the Rosary... he will give that place a new significance," Epalanga stated. "We have to give it a new sense. To make this place sacred instead of being a place of evil."
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, carries a personal connection to this history. Last year, a genealogist in the U.S. discovered that Robert Prevost, as he was known before his election, has Creole heritage. His maternal great-grandparents were described as people of color in Louisiana census records.
The research uncovered that Leo had both Black and white ancestors, a lineage that included both enslaved people and slave owners. This revelation adds a layer of introspection to his visit, especially given that some of the first enslaved people to arrive in Louisiana were sent from Angola, according to historians. Pope Leo has not spoken publicly about this heritage.
His silence creates its own narrative. Mariana Candido, a professor of history at Emory University in Atlanta, sees a fascinating complexity in Muxima’s transformation. "I can see how this is a way of connecting to Catholics in Angola, and making the Church more in sync with how people are practicing Catholicism in Angola and in African countries," Candido observed. She believes Leo is well-positioned for this role, citing his history of serving communities in his hometown of Chicago, which has a substantial African American population.
His pastoral experience there offers a foundation for understanding diverse spiritual needs. Stan Chu Ilo, a Nigerian priest and professor at DePaul University in Chicago, noted evidence of the pontiff developing connections to Africa. He cited Leo's elevation of African figures within the church, including the recent promotion of Monsignor Anthony Ekpo of Nigeria to a high-ranking position at the Vatican. "This pope is actively cultivating African presence within the church and trying to, I think, heal this policy or program of seeing Africa as just making up the numbers," Chu Ilo explained.
This represents a deliberate shift in Vatican diplomacy, acknowledging the growing importance of the African continent to the global church. Pope Leo XIV stated at the beginning of his trip that he had decided in May of last year, soon after his election, that Africa would be his initial papal journey. Other trips intervened, but he described this particular visit to Africa as "very special for several reasons." Angola, in particular, bears deep scars from colonialism and its aftermath.
It remained a Portuguese colony until 1975. Immediately after achieving independence, the nation descended into a bloody civil war that pitted newly freed Angolans against each other. The conflict persisted intermittently for 27 years, claiming the lives of more than half a million people.
This long period of instability continues to shape the country's political and economic landscape. The Vatican has indicated that some themes Leo will address in Africa include the exploitation of natural and human resources, corruption, and authoritarian regimes. These issues resonate deeply within Angola.
Olivio Nkilumbo, an opposition lawmaker in Angola’s Parliament, argued that the country is still not a democracy that delivers for its 37 million people, more than a half-century after independence. Nkilumbo cited decades of authoritarian governments and economic inequality that have left millions in poverty, despite Angola’s vast reserves of oil, diamonds, and other resources. "We still don’t have democracy, don’t have freedom," Nkilumbo asserted, adding he wished the pope to be a pilgrim for peace and reconciliation but also to bring a forceful message advocating for social justice. "In my view, the pope knows the real situation of Angola."
This situation illustrates how trade policy is foreign policy by other means. Global demand for Angolan oil and diamonds often shapes political dynamics within the country, sometimes at the expense of its citizens. Nkilumbo, though not Catholic, praised the Catholic Church in Angola, the country’s dominant religious denomination, for being at the forefront of the fight for equality.
This highlights the church's critical role as a civil society actor. Epalanga, for instance, serves as executive secretary of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Angola, actively promoting democracy and working to alleviate poverty and inequality, often challenging established authorities. Why It Matters: This papal visit extends beyond a simple religious pilgrimage; it is a confrontation with history and a call to action for the present.
For consumers globally, the historical narrative of exploitation from Angola, whether of human beings or natural resources, serves as a stark reminder to follow the supply chain. Understanding the origins of goods, from coffee to conflict minerals, connects directly to the well-being of people in producing nations. The Pope's presence in Muxima could catalyze broader discussions about ethical sourcing and the responsibilities of international actors in regions still grappling with the legacies of colonialism and resource extraction.
It underscores how historical injustices often morph into modern economic disparities, impacting global trade flows and consumer markets. Key Takeaways: - Pope Leo XIV will visit Angola's Church of Our Lady of Muxima, a site historically central to the trans-Atlantic slave trade. - The pontiff's own recently revealed heritage includes ancestors who were both enslaved and slave owners, adding personal resonance to the visit. - African Catholic leaders view the visit as an opportunity to redefine the church's role in confronting historical injustices and promoting social justice. - Angola continues to face challenges of resource exploitation, corruption, and economic inequality, issues the Vatican plans to address during the tour. As Pope Leo XIV recites the Rosary in Muxima, the world will watch for his specific words regarding the historical injustices and ongoing challenges facing Africa.
His message will be scrutinized by Angolan citizens, international human rights advocates, and the global Catholic community. The visit could set the tone for future Vatican engagements with African nations, particularly concerning issues of economic justice and reconciliation. Whether his words translate into concrete action from the church or inspire policy changes from resource-hungry nations remains the critical question.
Observers will be listening for any direct acknowledgments of the Church's historical role and specific calls for accountability or reparations.
Key Takeaways
— - Pope Leo XIV will visit Angola's Church of Our Lady of Muxima, a site historically central to the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
— - The pontiff's own recently revealed heritage includes ancestors who were both enslaved and slave owners, adding personal resonance to the visit.
— - African Catholic leaders view the visit as an opportunity to redefine the church's role in confronting historical injustices and promoting social justice.
— - Angola continues to face challenges of resource exploitation, corruption, and economic inequality, issues the Vatican plans to address during the tour.
Source: AP News