Pope Leo XIV - Official Medal of the Apostolic Voyage to Africa - Gilt bronze - 2026






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Description from the seller
In auction now: a rare contemporary papal medal dedicated to the Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in Africa, carried out in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea from 13 to 23 April 2026.
This is the second international Apostolic Journey of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, following the trip to Turkey and Lebanon which took place between November and December 2025.
Issued by the Vatican in only a few copies to commemorate this important event of the Pontificate, the medal is not intended for the normal commercial circuit and is difficult to obtain on the private collector market.
Characteristics
Obverse
In the center sits the papal coat of arms of Pope Leo XIV, an identifying element of the Pontificate and the focal point of the composition.
Reverse
The reverse is entirely dedicated to the four African nations visited by the Holy Father.
There appear, in Latin, the names of Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, accompanied by the date of the Apostolic Journey, also reported according to the Latin epigraphic tradition.
The composition is enriched by figures and symbols relating to the history of the Christian faith in the countries visited.
Among these, St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, is clearly identifiable, an extraordinarily important figure in the history of African Christianity and particularly significant in the Pontificate of Leo XIV, belonging to the Order of Saint Augustine.
Custody
The medal is kept in its elegant original red leather case, adorned with the coat of arms of Pope Leo XIV impressed in gold.
Metal: gilded bronze
Diameter: 50 mm
Artist: A. Mistichelli
Notes for the collector
Medals struck on the occasion of the Apostolic Journeys constitute a special and sought-after expression of contemporary papal medallic art.
This specimen is of particular interest for being linked to the second international Apostolic Journey of Pope Leo XIV’s Pontificate and for the particular richness of its iconography, which simultaneously recalls four African nations and the figure of St. Augustine.
Limited availability and the difficulty of obtaining through normal commercial channels further increase its appeal to collectors of papal medallic art, Church history, and Vatican memorabilia.
Provenance
The medal is not sold on behalf of the Holy See, the Vatican City State, or other ecclesiastical entities.
The piece comes from a private collection currently in the process of liquidation.
In auction now: a rare contemporary papal medal dedicated to the Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in Africa, carried out in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea from 13 to 23 April 2026.
This is the second international Apostolic Journey of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, following the trip to Turkey and Lebanon which took place between November and December 2025.
Issued by the Vatican in only a few copies to commemorate this important event of the Pontificate, the medal is not intended for the normal commercial circuit and is difficult to obtain on the private collector market.
Characteristics
Obverse
In the center sits the papal coat of arms of Pope Leo XIV, an identifying element of the Pontificate and the focal point of the composition.
Reverse
The reverse is entirely dedicated to the four African nations visited by the Holy Father.
There appear, in Latin, the names of Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, accompanied by the date of the Apostolic Journey, also reported according to the Latin epigraphic tradition.
The composition is enriched by figures and symbols relating to the history of the Christian faith in the countries visited.
Among these, St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, is clearly identifiable, an extraordinarily important figure in the history of African Christianity and particularly significant in the Pontificate of Leo XIV, belonging to the Order of Saint Augustine.
Custody
The medal is kept in its elegant original red leather case, adorned with the coat of arms of Pope Leo XIV impressed in gold.
Metal: gilded bronze
Diameter: 50 mm
Artist: A. Mistichelli
Notes for the collector
Medals struck on the occasion of the Apostolic Journeys constitute a special and sought-after expression of contemporary papal medallic art.
This specimen is of particular interest for being linked to the second international Apostolic Journey of Pope Leo XIV’s Pontificate and for the particular richness of its iconography, which simultaneously recalls four African nations and the figure of St. Augustine.
Limited availability and the difficulty of obtaining through normal commercial channels further increase its appeal to collectors of papal medallic art, Church history, and Vatican memorabilia.
Provenance
The medal is not sold on behalf of the Holy See, the Vatican City State, or other ecclesiastical entities.
The piece comes from a private collection currently in the process of liquidation.
