Pope Leo XIV Begins Africa Tour with Historic Visit to Algeria

Pope Leo XIV Begins Africa Tour with Historic Visit to Algeria
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Pope Leo XIV has begun an 11-day tour of Africa with a landmark visit to Algeria, highlighting the continent’s growing importance to the Catholic Church and calling for peace and interfaith coexistence.

According to The Guardian, the pontiff arrived in Algeria on Monday, marking the first papal visit to the country. He was received by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and visited key national sites, including a monument commemorating Algeria’s war of independence.

The trip—Leo’s longest since becoming pope in 2025—will also include stops in Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.

Observers say the visit reflects Africa’s rising significance within the Catholic Church, as the continent accounts for a rapidly growing share of the global Catholic population, while numbers decline in parts of Europe.

During his visit, Pope Leo emphasized peace, dialogue, and coexistence, particularly between Christian and Muslim communities. Religious leaders in Algeria described the visit as an opportunity to strengthen interfaith relations and promote tolerance.

The trip also continues efforts initiated under Pope Francis to foster dialogue with the Muslim world and promote a message of global “human fraternity.”