During the flight from Angola to Equatorial Guinea, Leo praised his predecessor’s concern for the poor and his message of mercy and fraternity.

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday, opening the final leg of his trip to Africa after a flight of about 2.5 hours from Luanda, Angola.

Speaking in Italian to reporters aboard the papal flight, Leo marked the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ death with an extended remembrance of his predecessor, highlighting his witness, his closeness to the poor and suffering, and his appeals to mercy and fraternity.

“I would like to remember, on this first anniversary of his death, Pope Francis, who gave and offered so much to the Church through his life, his witness, his words, and his actions,” Leo said.

The pope said Francis gave much to the Church by living “closeness to the poorest, the smallest, the sick, children, and the elderly,” and by the example of his life and preaching.

Leo also pointed to Francis’ emphasis on universal fraternity, saying he sought to promote authentic respect for every man and woman and to foster a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood rooted in the Gospel.

He further recalled Francis’ message of mercy, from his first Angelus to a March 17, 2013, Mass before the formal inauguration of his pontificate, when he preached on the woman caught in adultery and spoke “from the heart” about the mercy of God.

Leo said Francis shared with the whole Church the message of God’s love, forgiveness, and mercy, and pointed in particular to the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy as part of that legacy.

“Let us pray that he is already enjoying the mercy of the Lord, and let us give thanks to the Lord for the great gift of Francis’ life to the whole Church and to the entire world,” Leo said.

Leo then took questions from journalists about the Church in Angola, where he had just completed a visit.

Asked about cooperation between Church and state, the pope said the two can work together for the good of the people while maintaining distinct roles. He said he had discussed health care and education with Angola’s president, including ways to improve public services and expand hospitals and other institutions.

He added that the Church also has a duty to defend the rights of all people through its witness and preaching.

Asked whether Angola could one day receive a cardinal, Leo said no decision had been made on the creation of new cardinals and that the issue would have to be considered in a broader global context. Still, he said such a possibility could be considered in the future.

On whether new dioceses might be established in Angola, Leo said the Church’s growth there was encouraging and underscored the need for continued evangelization. He said local bishops, working with the apostolic nuncio, could help determine where new dioceses might be needed so pastors can be closer to the faithful.

Equatorial Guinea is the last stop on Leo’s Africa tour, which has also included Algeria, Cameroon, and Angola.

His first scheduled event in the country was an address to the president and civil authorities at the Presidential Palace. He is also set to visit the university campus named for him, where he will address representatives of the cultural world, as well as the Jean Pierre Olie psychiatric hospital and the country’s bishops.

On April 22, Leo is scheduled to travel to Mongomo to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and visit the Pope Francis Technological School, named for his predecessor. He will later travel to Bata, the country’s political capital.

In Bata, Leo is expected to visit a prison, pray at a memorial for the victims of a March 7, 2021, arms depot explosion that killed 20 people and injured about 500 others, and meet with young people and families.

The pope is scheduled to conclude the trip on April 23 with a final Mass before returning to Rome.

Follow the Live Updates of Pope Leo’s Trip in Africa available at EWTN News.

Marco Mancini contributed to this article. This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.