The EWTN News portal reports on the reflections of various “bishops” across Africa regarding the first year of the pontificate of the usurper Robert Prevost, known as Leo XIV. The article highlights his recent apostolic visit to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, framing it as a “defining moment” of his ministry. The “bishops” emphasize themes such as “dialogue,” “reconciliation,” “missionary outreach,” “justice,” and “peace,” while also noting the pope’s focus on the “peripheries” of the Church. Bishop Christian Carlassare of South Sudan is quoted extensively, stating that the journey “reversed the perspective” by making the “so-called ‘margins’ become the center,” and that “mission is increasingly a circular movement of mutual giving and receiving.” Bishop Charles Sampa Kasonde of Zambia reflects on the pope’s engagement with Christian-Muslim relations, stating that it “opens up also the interaction with our brothers and sisters, the Muslims, in appreciating what religion stands for.” Bishop Diego Ramón Sarrió Cucarella of Algeria describes the visit as a “moment of fraternity, peace, and spiritual encouragement,” emphasizing the pope’s words on “dialogue, reconciliation, the dignity of every human person, and the importance of building bridges.”
