Pope Leo XIV Expresses Deep Gratitude to Algerian President

 Khaled Bensekkaim Send an email 13 hours ago

Pope Leo XIV expressed on Wednesday his deep gratitude to the Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, as well as to the Algerian people for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him during his visit to Algeria, in a message addressed to the President of the Republic, the text of which reads as follows:

“At the moment of leaving the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, I express my deep gratitude to Your Excellency, as well as to the Algerian people, so dear to my heart, for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to me during my visit.

With the assurance of my prayers, I invoke upon the nation the divine blessing of peace and joy.”

Pope Leo XIV Starts Africa Tour with Landmark Algeria Visit

Dimas Nugroho

Published Apr 14, 2026 

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algiers on Monday, April 13, 2026, marking the first-ever papal visit to Algeria as he commenced an 11-day diplomatic and religious tour across the African continent.

As reported by The Guardian, the pontiff was received at Algiers international airport by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune before visiting the Maqam Echahid monument to honor those killed during the Algerian war for independence.

The journey serves as the longest trip of Leo’s papacy since his election in May 2025 and includes scheduled stops in Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea following his departure from North Africa.

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Academic experts note the itinerary reflects a significant demographic shift, as Africa now accounts for approximately 20% of the global Catholic population and continues to experience rapid growth while European numbers decline.

Recent data indicates the Catholic Church established 14 new dioceses across the continent in the past year alone, adding roughly 7 million new members to its ranks during that period.

“Africa is the site of vitality, of growth, of the future of the church,” said Adriaan van Klinken, a professor of religion and African studies at the University of Leeds.

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The visit to Algeria, a Muslim-majority nation, is viewed by church officials as a strategic effort to strengthen interfaith bonds and promote peaceful coexistence between Christian and Muslim communities.

Father Peter Claver Kogh, rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, described the event as a vital moment for solidifying harmony and fraternal living between the two religious groups.

Analysts from the University of Oxford suggest the focus on Africa underscores a deliberate shift in Vatican priorities, particularly as the Pope recently declined an invitation to visit the United States.

Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the Augustinian order, chose Algeria partly due to its historical status as the birthplace of Saint Augustine and its role in early Christian intellectual heritage.

SOURCE https://www.asatunews.co.id/en/pope-leo-algeria-africa-tour#google_vignette