Pope Leo XIV delivered a sharp rebuke of extractive capitalism during his arrival in Angola on Saturday, condemning what he called the "extractivist logic" that generates suffering and environmental destruction across Africa.
Speaking in Portuguese at the presidential palace in Luanda, the pontiff addressed government officials, diplomats and civil society representatives on the first day of his three-day visit to the oil-rich nation. Angola represents the third stop on his 11-day African tour that began in Algeria and continued through Cameroon.
How much suffering, how many deaths, how many social and environmental catastrophes are generated by this extractivist logic!
Pope Leo XIV — RFI
The papal criticism targeted the exploitation of Angola's abundant natural resources, including oil, gas and diamonds, which have failed to lift much of the population out of poverty despite generating substantial wealth. Leo XIV argued that powerful interests continue to view African nations primarily as sources of extraction rather than partners in development.
Angola emerged from a devastating 27-year civil war in 2002, but the country still grapples with high poverty rates and stark inequality. The pope's message resonated particularly strongly given the nation's history of colonial exploitation and ongoing struggles with resource governance.
French outlets frame the story through a post-colonial lens, emphasizing the pope's critique of extractive capitalism while maintaining diplomatic balance. They highlight France's historical ties to African development discourse without directly implicating French interests in resource extraction.