Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria on Monday for an official visit at the invitation of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, marking a landmark moment in Algeria’s diplomatic history.
At the Maqam Echahid memorial, the Pope observed a minute of silence and laid a wreath honoring the martyrs of Algeria’s glorious Liberation Revolution. Addressing delegations gathered at Riadh El Feth plaza, Pope Leo XIV told dzwatch: “Algeria’s history has known pain and suffered periods of violence, but you have known how to overcome all of that with honor and courage.”
The Pontiff praised Algeria as a “noble country with a deep-rooted history rich in traditions, stretching back to the time of Saint Augustine and long before,” describing it as a “crossroads of cultures and religions.”
He emphasized that Algeria, strong in its roots and the hopes of its youth, is fully capable of continuing to contribute to stability and dialogue within the international community and across the Mediterranean. “The future is in the hands of men and women who are peacemakers,” he declared, adding that “justice will always triumph over injustice.”
