Pope Leo XIV will visit Angola between April 18 and 21, a trip that will include meetings with President João Lourenço, representatives of civil society and the Catholic Church, as well as a visit to the Muxima Sanctuary and the Lunda Sul province.

For the Bishop of Luena, Martin Lasarte, this trip could have special significance for the east of the country, where Catholic evangelization is still in its growth phase and where important social and economic challenges persist.

According to Martin Lasarte, the Pope's arrival represents great joy for the faithful and also comes at a symbolic moment in Angola's religious history. The visit coincides with the celebrations of the 450th anniversary of the founding of Luanda, a city that was for centuries one of the main centers of the Catholic presence in the country.

The religious reality in eastern Angola has a very different history from the capital. While in Luanda the presence of the Church dates back to the early period of Portuguese colonization, in the eastern provinces evangelization only began in the 20th century. "The gospel began here in 1933 with the Benedictines, while in Luanda there are centuries of Christian presence," explained the Catholic official.

This historical trajectory has led to the establishment of the Church in eastern Angola being considered more recent and still in the process of consolidation, especially after the difficulties faced during the period following Angola's independence in 1975.

The eastern region of Angola, which includes the provinces of Moxico, Lunda Norte, and Lunda Sul, is often described as one of the richest areas in natural resources in the country, but also as one facing the greatest development challenges. For the Bishop of Luena, the papal visit could help make this reality more visible.

"On the one hand, the visit will stimulate evangelization and, on the other, it will highlight the problems that exist in eastern Angola.", he said.

According to the religious leader, it is a region with enormous potential, but one that continues to face structural difficulties in areas such as infrastructure, social services, and economic opportunities.

Various sectors of Angolan civil society have also argued that the eastern provinces remain underdeveloped when compared to other regions of the country, despite the exploitation of mineral resources, particularly diamonds, which have been an important economic activity in the Lundas for decades.

"It is a region of great beauty, enormous potential, and a vast cultural richness that should be valued.", he said.

For Lasarte, the region's development must also involve valuing local traditions and the participation of communities in the process of economic and social growth. During his visit to Angola, Leo XIV is expected to fulfill an agenda that includes institutional meetings and religious celebrations.

In addition to his visit to Luanda and the Muxima Sanctuary, the Pope is expected to travel to the city of Saurimo, capital of the Lunda Sul province, where a Eucharistic celebration is planned. The Pope's trip to eastern Angola is considered one of the most significant moments of the journey, highlighting a region that rarely receives national and international attention.

This will be the third papal visit to Angola, following the trips of John Paul II in 1992 and Benedict XVI in 2009. For the Bishop of Luena, the Pope's presence could also serve to encourage deeper reflection on the future of eastern Angola.

According to Lasarte, the region's natural and cultural riches should be transformed into concrete opportunities for the local populations.

"There are great riches, traditions, and peoples with a very strong identity."

"It is important that these communities become the protagonists of their own wealth and participate in the development of the country.", he defended.

The religious leader added that greater attention to the region could contribute to strengthening national unity, but always respecting the cultural and social diversity that exists in Angolan territory.