Pope Benedict will visit Angola's capital Luanda between March 20 and 23, during his first trip to Africa as pontiff, said a spokesman for the country's Foreign Ministry.

Sub-Saharan Africa is a rich recruiting ground for the Catholic Church, with an estimated 140 million people, or one out of six Africans, claiming to be followers.

Between 60 and 70 per cent of Angolans are Catholics, and the country is home to Mama Muxima, a major pilgrimage site.

"The dates of the Pope's visit are now officially confirmed," said spokesman Abreu Breganha. "We have begun mobilising people and expect thousands of Angolans from the countryside to come to the city to attend Mass with the Pope."

A public Mass is scheduled for March 22, Mr Breganha added.

Pope Benedict announced the African tour at a synod of bishops in October, but did not provide the dates.

He said he would first travel to Cameroon to deliver the working document of a future synod whose theme will be Africa, and then to Angola to celebrate 500 years of evangelisation in the former Portuguese colony.

Pope Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, travelled widely on the continent during his more than 26 years as pontiff. He visited Angola in 1992, one year after the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union. Angola had been a Soviet ally.