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Father Fred Wekesa, Rector of the Basilica of Saint Augustine in Annaba, tells Vatican News about the local community's joy to welcome Pope Leo XIV, noting his visit has been a source of joy for all people of Algeria, Catholics and non-Christians alike.
Pope Leo XIV kicks off his Apostolic Journey in Africa with an intense day in Algiers, where he meets with government authorities, visits a mosque, meets with a community of Augustinian missionary sisters, and prays with the Algerian community.
Pope Leo XIV encourages the Christian community in Algeria to remain rooted in “prayer, charity and unity,” praising their quiet witness and urging them to be a sign of peace and fraternity.
In a private visit to a community run by Missionary Augustinian Sisters in Algiers, Pope Leo XIV highlights the enduring witness of martyrdom and encourages a renewed commitment to peace, dignity, and respect for differences.
Pope Leo XIV visits the Grand Mosque of Algiers, highlighting its role as a sacred space for prayer, dialogue, and the search for God.
Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity and the Commission for Religious Relations with Judaism, in a statement released to Vatican News and L’Osservatore Romano, recalls that “Pope John Paul II charted a significant course for the future reconciliation between the Catholic Church and Judaism.” Today marks the 40th anniversary of John Paul II’s visit to the Great Synagogue of Rome. It was the first time ever that a pope entered a Jewish place of worship.
Meeting with the civil authorities of Algeria, Pope Leo XIV calls for societies to foster oases of peace in which human life and dignity are recognized as inviolable and never exploited.
Our Editorial Director reflects on Pope Leo XIV’s first words after he lands on Algerian soil, which is an appeal for mutual forgiveness as the key to building the future.
In his first address in Algeria, Pope Leo XIV reiterates that God wants peace for all nations—a peace that is “an expression of justice and dignity"—and encourages the Algerian people to continue to keep God as a central place in their heritage.
During the flight to Algeria, Pope Leo XIV responds to questions regarding US President Donald Trump's recent statements, saying he is "not a politician" and that he will "continue to speak strongly against war, seeking to promote peace and dialogue."
In Angola, the countdown to the much-anticipated visit of Pope Leo XIV has begun. Pope Leo will be in Angola from 18 to 21 April. It is an event that has galvanised the whole country into action—from government officials to the Catholic hierarchy, the faithful and religious institutions across the country.
On the papal flight to Algeria, journalists present Pope Leo with a drawing from young patients at the Bambino Gesù hospital in Rome.