Cardinal Vesco Says Pope Leo XIV’s Algeria Visit Signals Openness and Fraternity

Cardinal Jean Paul Vesco, Archbishop of Algiers, has described Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to Algeria as a beautiful sign of openness and fraternity, highlighting its symbolic and pastoral significance for both the local Church and the wider Mediterranean region.

The Holy See recently confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will travel to Algeria on April 13 as the first stop of a broader Apostolic Journey to several African nations. For Cardinal Vesco, who was appointed Archbishop of Algiers in 2021 after serving in Oran, the announcement was received with deep joy. He noted that the Algerian Church had long hoped for such a visit and sees the Pope’s decision to include the country early in his pontificate as meaningful.

Algeria is a predominantly Muslim nation with a small Catholic community, yet its historical and spiritual importance remains profound. The Pope’s itinerary is expected to include sites linked to Saint Augustine, the great theologian born in North Africa, whose legacy continues to shape Christian thought worldwide. The city of Annaba, ancient Hippo, where Augustine served as bishop and died in 430, stands as a powerful reminder of Christianity’s deep roots in the region.

Cardinal Vesco also underlined the importance of the memory of the 19 Blessed martyrs of Algeria, including Bishop Pierre Claverie and the monks of Tibhirine, who were killed during the country’s civil conflict in the 1990s. Their beatification recognized a Church that chose to remain alongside the Algerian people in times of violence and uncertainty. The cardinal said the visit will honor that witness of fidelity and courage.

The Archbishop emphasized that Algeria occupies a unique geographic and cultural position. Situated at the crossroads of North and South and between the Western and Arab Muslim worlds, it is also a key point along migration routes across the Mediterranean. In this context, he sees the papal visit as a gesture of bridge building in a region often marked by tension. The Mediterranean, he said, should not be understood as a dividing line but as a shared cultural and spiritual space.

Pope Leo XIV’s journey will include encounters with the local Catholic community at the Basilica of Notre Dame d Afrique in Algiers, a historic site connected to missionary outreach across the continent. For the small Algerian Church, the visit represents recognition and encouragement to continue living a dialogue of life with their Muslim neighbors.

Cardinal Vesco stressed that interreligious dialogue in Algeria is rooted in daily relationships rather than formal statements. The Church seeks to remain close to the people, sharing joys and hardships alike. In that spirit, he said, the Pope’s presence will be marked above all by fraternity and human encounter, reinforcing a path of openness that has characterized recent pontificates and continues under Pope Leo XIV.