After the appeal for peace, forgiveness and fraternity among peoples made by Leo XIV in his first stop of his trip to Algeria - the monument of the martyrs Maqam Echahid - the Pope met in Algiers with the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps, at the Convention Center ‘Djamaa el Djazair’.
The President of the Algerian Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and Pope Leo XIV showed special harmony and fraternity, especially in the need for justice, and in a “hospitality deeply rooted in the Arab and Berber communities, that sacred duty that we would like to find everywhere as a fundamental social value”, thanked the Pope.
President Tebboune pointed out that Leo XIV is considered one of the greatest advocates of social justice, a value to which Algeria is deeply committed, and which is a cornerstone of its constitutions and national policy.
In his response, the Catholic Pontiff shared that “without Justice there is no authentic peace, which is expressed in the promotion of equitable and dignified conditions for all”.
The Enduring Legacy of St. Augustine
The Algerian president described the Pope's visit as a historic event for the country, and welcomed him ‘to this fertile land that saw the birth of Augustine of Hippo, his spiritual father and one of the most brilliant thinkers in history’. ‘St. Augustine remains a favorite son of this land”.".
“Augustine's enduring legacy can inspire the world today at such a delicate and decisive moment, and his voice has a special relevance that appeals to the conscience of all humanity,’ he said.
“The Catholic Church also wishes to contribute to the common good of Algeria.”
The Pope stressed that “the true strength of a country lies in the cooperation of all to achieve the common good. The authorities are not called to dominate, but to serve the people and their development”.
Consequently, “the Catholic Church, with its communities and initiatives, also wishes to contribute to the common good of Algeria, strengthening its particular identity as a bridge between North and South, East and West”.
Mediterranean and Sahara, immense human treasures in their history
At this point, the Pope referred to the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert, which “represent geographical and spiritual crossroads of enormous importance. If we delve into their history, free from simplifications and ideologies, we will find immense human treasures hidden there, for the sea and the desert have been places of mutual enrichment between peoples and cultures for millennia.”.
“Let's multiply the oases of peace!”
His analysis has, however, provoked a strong lament: “Woe to us if we turn them into cemeteries where even hope dies! Let us free these immense basins of history and future from evil! Let us multiply the oasis of peace, Let us denounce and eliminate the causes of despair, let us fight against those who profit from the misfortune of others!
“Those who speculate with human life, whose dignity is inviolable, are illicit profiteers. Let us therefore unite our forces, our spiritual energies, every intelligence and resource that makes the earth and the sea places of life, encounter and wonder,” the Pope said.
Leo XIV was in Algeria in 2004 and 2013.
At the beginning of his speech, the Pope expressed his gratitude for the welcome, and added: “You know that, as a spiritual son of St. Augustine, I have already been to Annaba twice: in 2004 and 2013. I thank divine Providence for, according to its mysterious plan, it has arranged for me to return there as the Successor of Peter. I come among you as a pilgrim of peace, eager to meet the noble Algerian people.”.
“We are all one family”
“We are brothers and sisters,” he added, “because we share the same heavenly Father: the deep religious sense of the Algerian people is the secret of a culture of encounter and reconciliation, of which this visit of mine is also intended to be a sign. In a world full of conflicts and misunderstandings, let us meet and seek to understand one another, recognizing that we are all one family. Today, the simplicity of this awareness is the key to opening many closed doors”.
Country of peaceful coexistence
The President of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, described as “courageous” the Pope's position on the Gaza tragedy, and “in the commitment to the Palestinian cause,” and “we join in his defense of peace in the Gulf region and for Lebanon,” he added.
“Freedom, dialogue and peaceful coexistence, constitute the core of national coexistence. Algeria is a place of harmony, interaction and peaceful coexistence,” he said.
In the afternoon, the Pope visited the great mosque of Algiers, and a center of welcome and friendship of the Augustinian Missionary Sisters in Bab El Qued. And finally, the meeting with the Algerian community in the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa.
Tuesday, St. Augustine
Tuesday is a day of special intensity centered on St. Augustine. The Pope visits the archaeological site of Hippo, a retirement home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and will hold a private meeting with members of the Order of St. Augustine, before celebrating Holy Mass in the Basilica dedicated to the Saint.
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