During a deeply symbolic visit to Angola, Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful message of peace, reconciliation, and historical reflection at the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima—one of the country’s most revered Catholic pilgrimage sites.

Located along the banks of the Kwanza River, the sanctuary has long been a spiritual center for Angolans, gaining prominence in the 19th century following reported Marian apparitions. Today, it attracts thousands of pilgrims seeking faith, healing, and hope.

However, the site also carries a painful historical legacy. Originally constructed in the late 16th century by Portuguese colonizers as part of a fortified structure, the Church of Our Lady of Muxima was deeply tied to the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Historical accounts indicate that enslaved Africans were gathered at the site, forcibly baptized, and then marched more than 100 kilometers to Luanda, where they were shipped across the Atlantic to the Americas.

The visit resonated strongly across the continent, where Mama Muxima remains both a sacred spiritual destination and a reminder of Africa’s enduring struggle with the legacy of slavery and colonialism.