Photo courtesy of Vatican News.
Algeria’s presidency confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will make his first official visit to the North African country in April.
The Vatican announced the pope will be in Algeria from April 13 to 15 as part of an African tour that will also include Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune invited the pope, with officials noting the visit will strengthen relations and promote mutual understanding between Algeria and the Holy See.
The trip is expected to open new avenues for cooperation, reflecting shared goals of advancing peace, dialogue, and justice in addressing global challenges.
Tebboune held a meeting to review preparations for the pope’s visit.
During the trip, the pope is scheduled to give an official address, visit the Basilica of Notre Dame d’Afrique in Algiers, and travel to Annaba, the coastal city associated with Saint Augustine.
The president previously met Pope Leo XIV in July in Italy to discuss ways to deepen diplomatic ties between Algeria and the Holy See.
The pope had also expressed his wish to visit Algeria during his inaugural Mass in May, referring to it as the land of Saint Augustine.