Leo becomes first Pope to visit Algeria at start of major Africa tour

Key Points

• Pope Leo XIV became the first pontiff to visit Algeria, opening an 11-day tour of four African nations.
• The trip covers 18,000 km and 18 flights, with stops in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
• Africa’s Catholic population now exceeds 20% of the global faithful, making it the fastest-growing region for the church.
• The Pope aims to promote Christian-Muslim coexistence and honor St. Augustine, born in Algeria.
• President Trump publicly criticized the Pope, calling him “too liberal” and urging him to stop catering to the “Radical Left.”

Full Details

Pope Leo XIV began his historic African itinerary by becoming the first pontiff to visit Algeria, opening an 11-day tour that will also include Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. The two-day stop in Algeria marks the inaugural papal visit to the country, where he will celebrate Mass in Annaba and attend a service at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers, underscoring Christian-Muslim dialogue. The trip covers roughly 18,000 km (11,185 miles) and involves 18 flights, framed by Vatican officials as a mission to draw global attention to Africa’s growing Catholic population—now more than a fifth of the world’s faithful—and to address issues such as peace, migration, and inter-faith coexistence. President Donald Trump criticized the Pope, calling him “too liberal” and urging him to stop catering to the “Radical Left.” The tour highlights Africa’s rising demographic and geopolitical weight for the church.