Pope Arrives in Algeria, First Stop of African Tour, to Visit Mosque and Memorial
Pope Leo XIV has begun an 11-day African tour, arriving in Algeria, his first major international trip since his election and the first papal visit to the Muslim-majority nation. The Pope paid respects at the Algerian Martyrs Memorial and met with the Algerian President. He is also scheduled to visit the Great Mosque of Algiers and the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, aiming to continue building bridges between the Christian and Islamic worlds.
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Vatican City, April 13 (CNA) Pope Leo XIV of the Roman Catholic Church began his 11-day African tour today, arriving at his first stop, Algeria. This trip is not only his first major international visit since his election as Pope but also the first time a Pope has visited this Muslim-majority country.
Agence France-Presse reported that Leo XIV arrived in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, before 9 AM GMT (5 PM Taipei time) on April 13. The total length of this visit is 18,000 kilometers. In addition to Algeria, the Pope will also visit Central African countries such as Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. He is expected to return to the Vatican on April 23.
Algiers Archbishop Jean-Paul Vesco told Agence France-Presse that the main purpose of the Pope's trip is to continue "building bridges between the Christian and Islamic worlds."
Upon arriving in Algiers, the Pope went to the Algerian Martyrs Memorial to pay tribute to those who sacrificed during Algeria's War of Independence against France from 1954 to 1962.
At the memorial, he stated: "Here, may we remember God's desire for peace in every nation. This peace allows us to face the future with reconciliation, and it can only be achieved through forgiveness."
This was the Pope's first speech upon arriving in Algeria, at a time when relations between Algeria and France are highly tense.
Leo XIV then met with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and delivered a speech to government officials and diplomatic envoys.
The Pope is scheduled to visit the Great Mosque of Algiers today, which boasts the tallest minaret in the world, and the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa overlooking the Bay of Algiers.
He also plans to visit a small chapel and pray alone there, built to commemorate the 19 clergy and nuns killed during the Algerian Civil War from 1992 to 2002.
According to Reuters, the 70-year-old Leo XIV is relatively young and in good health, embarking on one of the most complex papal visits in decades.
According to Vatican statistics, over 20% of Catholics worldwide live in Africa. In the three sub-Saharan African countries the Pope is visiting, Catholics account for more than half of the total population in each country.
However, Algeria is predominantly Muslim, with fewer than 10,000 Catholics among its approximately 48 million people. This is the first time the country has hosted a Roman Catholic Pope. (Translator: Kao Chao-fen/Proofreader: Hung Chi-yuan) 1150413
Agence France-Presse reported that Leo XIV arrived in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, before 9 AM GMT (5 PM Taipei time) on April 13. The total length of this visit is 18,000 kilometers. In addition to Algeria, the Pope will also visit Central African countries such as Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. He is expected to return to the Vatican on April 23.
Algiers Archbishop Jean-Paul Vesco told Agence France-Presse that the main purpose of the Pope's trip is to continue "building bridges between the Christian and Islamic worlds."
Upon arriving in Algiers, the Pope went to the Algerian Martyrs Memorial to pay tribute to those who sacrificed during Algeria's War of Independence against France from 1954 to 1962.
At the memorial, he stated: "Here, may we remember God's desire for peace in every nation. This peace allows us to face the future with reconciliation, and it can only be achieved through forgiveness."
This was the Pope's first speech upon arriving in Algeria, at a time when relations between Algeria and France are highly tense.
Leo XIV then met with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and delivered a speech to government officials and diplomatic envoys.
The Pope is scheduled to visit the Great Mosque of Algiers today, which boasts the tallest minaret in the world, and the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa overlooking the Bay of Algiers.
He also plans to visit a small chapel and pray alone there, built to commemorate the 19 clergy and nuns killed during the Algerian Civil War from 1992 to 2002.
According to Reuters, the 70-year-old Leo XIV is relatively young and in good health, embarking on one of the most complex papal visits in decades.
According to Vatican statistics, over 20% of Catholics worldwide live in Africa. In the three sub-Saharan African countries the Pope is visiting, Catholics account for more than half of the total population in each country.
However, Algeria is predominantly Muslim, with fewer than 10,000 Catholics among its approximately 48 million people. This is the first time the country has hosted a Roman Catholic Pope. (Translator: Kao Chao-fen/Proofreader: Hung Chi-yuan) 1150413