Pope Leo XIV Begins African Tour with Historic Visit to Algeria
Pope Leo XIV has departed Rome to start an 11-day tour of Africa, with Algeria as his first stop. This journey, which begins on Monday, April 13, 2026, marks the American pontiff’s first major international trip since taking office.
It is also the first time a leader of the Catholic Church will visit the Muslim-majority North African country. The tour will cover thousands of kilometres and include stops in Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea before the Pope returns to the Vatican on April 23.
The main purpose of the visit to Algeria is to strengthen understanding and friendship between Christians and Muslims. Before meeting with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and speaking to government officials and diplomats in Algiers, the Pope will lay a wreath at the Martyrs Memorial to honour those who died during Algeria’s war of independence against France from 1954 to 1962. The city of Algiers has been prepared for the occasion, with freshly painted walls, repaired roads, and decorated public spaces showing a warm welcome for the visitor.
The trip holds special meaning for Pope Leo XIV because of his deep connection to Saint Augustine, the influential fifth-century Christian thinker who was born in what is now Algeria. The Pope belongs to the Augustinian order and has often spoken of himself as a spiritual son of Saint Augustine. On Tuesday, he is scheduled to travel to the city of Annaba, the site of the ancient city of Hippo where Saint Augustine once lived and served as bishop. There, he will celebrate Mass at the Saint Augustine Basilica, offering encouragement to the small Catholic community in the country.
During his time in Algeria, the Pope will also visit the Great Mosque of Algiers and the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, where he plans to pray privately for the priests and nuns killed during the country’s civil war in the 1990s. Although the visit comes amid ongoing global conflicts, including tensions in the Middle East, Church leaders hope the tour will highlight messages of peace, coexistence, and solidarity. Many in Algeria see the historic trip as an opportunity to show the world the hospitality and peaceful spirit of its people. As the Pope continues his journey across the continent, attention will remain on how his words and presence can promote dialogue and understanding in diverse societies.
