Pope Leo XIV Heads to Algeria, First Stop in Historic 4‑Nation Africa Tour

Pope Leo XIV has begun an 11‑day tour of Africa, with Algeria as his first stop in a historic visit. That aims to deepen dialogue between Christians and Muslims and highlight the continent’s growing role in the Catholic Church. Historic first in Algeria The Pope landed in Algiers on Monday morning, becoming the first pontiff ever to visit the predominantly Muslim North African nation. He hails from the United States, and this marks his first major international trip since his election last year. Pope Leo XIV has begun an 11‑day tour of Africa, landing in Algiers for the first‑ever papal visit to Algeria before heading to Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, with a focus on peace, interfaith dialogue and Africa’s growing importance in the Catholic Church. Vatican officials describe the journey as an effort to “draw the world’s focus to Africa” and to build bridges in regions where Christians live as a small minority. In Algeria, Leo will spend two days in Algiers and Annaba, the ancient city of Hippo, where St Augustine served as bishop and where he will celebrate Mass. Upon arrival, he paid homage at the Martyrs’ Memorial in Algiers, honoring Algerians who died in the war of independence from France. He is also due to visit the Great Mosque of Algiers, which has the world’s tallest minaret, and the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa overlooking the Bay of Algiers. Message: peace, memory, and coexistence The Vatican says Leo comes to Algeria “as a messenger of peace” and as a guest who wants to listen to both Christians and Muslims. His speeches in the country will touch on interfaith dialogue, the wounds of past violence, and the need to protect the vulnerable, including migrants crossing North Africa toward Europe. A deeply symbolic moment of the trip will be his private prayer in a chapel dedicated to 19 priests and nuns killed during Algeria’s 1992–2002 civil war. Their beatification in 2018 marked an important step in recognizing the witness of Christians who chose to remain alongside their Muslim neighbors despite grave danger. Leo will not visit the Tibhirine monastery, where seven Trappist monks were abducted and murdered in 1996. Still, Vatican aides say he will refer to their story as part of a broader call to reject extremism. A continent at the centre of Catholic growth After Algeria, Pope Leo will head to Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, traveling nearly 18,000 kilometers and visiting 11 cities and towns. In these three sub‑Saharan countries, more than half the population identifies as Catholic, making them emblematic of a wider shift in the Church’s center of gravity towards Africa. Over the 11 days, he is scheduled to deliver about 25 speeches on themes including peace, exploitation of natural resources, and corruption. And the plight of young people seeking work and dignity. Vatican officials say the tour should send a clear signal that Africa is not a “periphery” but a core part of the global Catholic story. ALSO READ: Kenya’s Avocado Sector in Crisis Over Sh5 Billion Export Certificate Scandal