Pope Leo XIV begins a 10-day tour of Algeria, Angola, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea on Monday — his first trip to Africa as pontiff, coming less than a year into his papacy. The visit highlights a continent now home to 288 million Catholics, representing more than one in five faithful worldwide. Africa has the world's youngest population and the faith is growing faster there than anywhere else.

The trip exposes the Catholic Church's biggest power imbalance. Of the 121 cardinals who elect popes, only 14 are African while Italy alone has 18. Leo will also navigate regional resistance to reforms from his predecessor Francis — particularly the permission for priests to bless same-sex couples, which most African bishops have rejected. Gay relationships remain illegal in dozens of African nations.

All but Angola are ruled by authoritarian governments, including Cameroon's 93-year-old president and Equatorial Guinea's 40-year leader. Observers expect Leo to address democratic governance and human rights. As the first pope from the United States with Afro-Caribbean roots, he faces questions about how the church will modernize and appeal to younger generations on a continent that will define Catholicism's future.