Listen to Australian and world news and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.TRANSCRIPTThe Pontiff has just wrapped up an extensive tour of Africa, travelling through four different countries across the span of 11 days.The continent has the fastest growing Catholic population, with Africans accounting for 20 percent of the world's faithful.Leo’s trip has been part of a broader outreach focused on strengthening the Church’s presence in Africa while also addressing social challenges including poverty, inequality, and the need for peace.But on his return to Rome, it was the Middle East that Pope Leo XIV referenced, talking of a child in Lebanon in his broader message of unity and peace."I carry with me a photo of a Muslim child who, during my visit to Lebanon, was standing there holding a sign that said 'Welcome, Pope Leo,' and in this latest phase of the war he was killed This is it.”But despite the political debate sparked by the Pope's comments, overall the pontiff's visit has sparked excitement across the African continent, where his message of unity and reaching for the common good has resonated.Equatoguinean Father Mangue said his presence was deeply meaningful.“This visit is very important for us because the Pope is not just a father to us, he is our spiritual father