Pope Leo XIV has begun an 11-day Africa tour, opening with a historic visit to Algeria, his first major foreign trip since assuming the papacy and the first ever by a leader of the Roman Catholic Church to the predominantly Muslim North African nation.
The pontiff departed Rome on Monday morning aboard the papal aircraft for Algiers, where his programme is centered on interfaith engagement and efforts to deepen Christian–Muslim understanding.
According to the Archbishop of Algiers Jean-Paul Vesco, the visit is intended to continue “to build bridges between the Christian and Muslim worlds.”
Upon arrival in the Algerian capital, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and address government officials and diplomats.
Before the high-level engagements, he will pay tribute at the Martyrs Memorial overlooking Algiers, honoring victims of Algeria’s 1954–1962 war of independence against France.
The itinerary also highlights key religious landmarks that reflect the country’s complex spiritual and historical identity.
The Pope is expected to visit the Great Mosque of Algiers, known for its towering minaret, as well as the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, which overlooks the Bay of Algiers.
He will also make a private prayer visit to a chapel dedicated to 19 priests and nuns killed during Algeria’s civil conflict in the 1990s.
The visit carries deep personal significance for the pontiff, a member of the Augustinian order founded on the teachings of St Augustine.
Church officials note that Algeria, particularly the ancient city of Hippo (modern-day Annaba), holds special importance in his spiritual journey. Pope Leo is expected to travel to Annaba later in the week to visit sites linked to St Augustine’s legacy, including the Saint Augustine Basilica.
The broader regional journey will see the Pope travel to Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea before returning to Rome on April 23.
The 18,000-kilometre tour comes at a time of heightened global tensions, including ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Ahead of the trip, the Pope issued a strong appeal for peace, declaring “Enough to war!” during a speech at St Peter’s Basilica.
In Algiers, preparations for the papal visit have included visible civic efforts, with streets repainted, infrastructure upgraded, and public spaces decorated in anticipation of the historic moment.
While Algeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of worship under certain conditions, human rights organizations have raised concerns over restrictions faced by religious minorities. Some groups have urged the pontiff to address the issue during his visit.
Despite these challenges, church leaders in Algeria say the visit offers hope. Father Fred Wekesa, rector of the Saint Augustine Basilica in Annaba, described it as a moment of encouragement for local Christians, saying it sends “a message of encouragement and solidarity” and reaffirming that “we are capable of living together in peace.”