Photos of Pope Leo XIV's trip to Africa

Pope Leo XIV’s four-nation, 11-day trip to Africa is his first major overseas trip of the year and will include 11 cities and towns.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at Saint Augustine Basilica in Annaba, Algeria, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, on the second day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Leo XIV departs after visiting the archaeological site of Hippo, in Annaba, Algeria, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, on the second day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (AP Photo/Mohamed Ali)

Pope Leo XIV arrives to celebrate a Mass in the Saint Augustine Basilica in Annaba, Algeria, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, on the second day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Leo XIV is greeted by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, left, at the Djamaa el Djazair Conference Center during a meeting with Algerian authorities, members of the civil society, and diplomatic corps in Algiers, Monday, April 13, 2026, on the first day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Leo XIV arrives at Algiers' Houari Boumédiène International Airport on Monday, April 13, 2026, at the start of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Catholic faithful wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV at the Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport in Yaounde, Cameroon, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Welba Yamo Pascal)

Pope Leo XIV, center, flanked by Cameroon's President Paul Biya and his wife Chantal, meets with the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps in Yaounde Cameroon, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

People cheer as Pope Leo XIV arrives in Yaounde, Cameroon, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Welba Yamo Pascal)

A woman kneels in prayer as Pope Leo XIV arrives at Yaounde-Nsimalen International Airport, Cameroon, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, on the third day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Leo XIV claps hands as he visits the Ngul Zamba (Power of God) orphanage in Yaounde, Cameroon, Wednesday April 15, 2026 on the third day of his apostolic journey to Africa. (Alberto Pizzoli, Pool Photo via AP)

Dancers performs before the arrival of Pope Leo XIV at the Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport in Yaounde, Cameroon, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Welba Yamo Pascal)

Pope Leo XIV waves to supporters as he leaves after his visit to the Ngul Zamba (Power of God) orphanage in Yaounde, Cameroon, Wednesday April 15, 2026 on the third day of his apostolic journey to Africa. (Alberto Pizzoli, Pool Photo via AP)

For a third consecutive year, there is no clear choice for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, and again the debate over the importance of “valuable” comes into play.

Edmonton’s Connor McDavid is on track to win the scoring race for the most points and the Art Ross Trophy, while Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon has the inside track for the league lead in goals. Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov is more than 40 points clear of his next-closest teammate and could be a Hart finalist for a second consecutive year.

AP Hockey Writers John Wawrow and Stephen Whyno give their predictions on who should take home all the major awards, which are based on how players performed during the regular season:

BetMGM Sportsbook favorite: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado

Wawrow: Nikita Kucherov. As much as McDavid and MacKinnon deserve consideration, and maybe Montreal's Nick Suzuki merits mention, Kucherov did more with less on a Tampa Bay team that proved immune to the shakeup that turned the Atlantic Division upside down.

Whyno: McDavid. There's an argument to be made for Kucherov, given where the Lightning could be without him after a season full of injuries. But McDavid carried the Oilers down the stretch after Leon Draisaitl got injured, and he should add a fourth MVP honor to his impressive resume that is missing only the Stanley Cup.

BetMGM Sportsbook favorite: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay

Wawrow: Vasilevskiy. The numbers simply speak for themselves. Leading the league with 39 wins, no goalie had a better goals-against average and save percentage playing 50 or more games this season.

Whyno: Vasilevskiy. John and I are on the same wavelength here. With a nod to Utah's Karel Vejmelka for making more than 60 starts, no one has mixed a heavy workload with quality of play like Vasilevskiy, who has made the Cup Final four times, won it twice, but only won the Vezina once (2019).

BetMGM Sportsbook favorite: Zach Werenski, Columbus

Wawrow: Cale Makar, Colorado. A case could be made for Werenski over a ton of talent such as Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin and Minnesota’s Quinn Hughes. Makar, however, stands out for once again being the NHL’s most complete defenseman.

Whyno: Makar. Had Werenski on top for much of the year, but it was a rough second half for the 28-year-old since the Olympic break. Dallas' Miro Heiskanen deserves consideration, but Makar controlled the play for Colorado and only missed a handful of games because of injury.

BetMGM Sportsbook favorite: Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders (off the board)

Wawrow: Schaefer. Montreal’s Ivan Demidov and Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke might have more points, but no rookie played more valuable minutes than Schaefer, justifying his selection as a No. 1 pick.

Whyno: Schaefer could be unanimous. Even some of the best defensemen of this generation needed years to adapt to the learning curve at the position, and Schaefer did it perfectly at 18.

BetMGM Sportsbook favorite: N/A

Wawrow: Nick Suzuki, Montreal. With Aleksander Barkov injured, the field was wide open and Suzuki may run away with the honor. Though he is a secondary figure on the Canadiens' penalty kill, his 5-on-5 numbers and puck-possession metrics, while facing opposing top lines, are solid.

Whyno: Jordan Staal, Carolina. The team captain has consistently drawn tough defensive matchups and dominated on faceoffs and has only once been a Selke finalist. This should be his year.

BetMGM Sportsbook favorite: Lindy Ruff, Buffalo

Wawrow: Ruff. He found the elusive key to finally unlock the potential of a team that too often faltered under pressure, carrying over the lessons learned from his first season back in Buffalo. He did so with a game-at-a-time focus, a changing lineup and being Buffalo’s first coach during the team’s 14-season playoff drought to finally place an emphasis on improving locker room culture.

Whyno: Jon Cooper, Tampa Bay. Injuries and extended absences to key players, including Victor Hedman, Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli and Ryan McDonagh, led the Lightning to dress 33 skaters and three goalies and showcased why Cooper is considered among the best in the business.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

FILE - Edmonton Oilers hockey player Connor McDavid poses with the Ted Lindsey Award, the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy at the NHL Awards, on June 26, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

FILE - Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon stands with his trophies as the recipient of the Hart Memorial Trophy, left, and Ted Lindsay Award at hockey's NHL Awards, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/L.E. Baskow, File)

FILE - Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov poses with, from left, the Ted Lindsay Award, Hart Memorial Trophy and the Art Ross Trophy after winning the honors at the NHL Awards, onJune 19, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)