In Annaba, in northeastern Algeria, preparations are intensifying at the Basilica of Saint Augustine, named after the famous Christian theologian and philosopher Augustine of Hippo.
The city is preparing to welcome Pope Leo XIV, an event that has generated considerable excitement within the Catholic community. The themes of peace, reconciliation, unity, and hope will be central to this apostolic visit. No pope has ever visited Algeria before, where Islam is the state religion and Christians remain a minority. In this context, a visit to the Great Mosque of Algiers is also planned. Pope Leo XIV will deliver a speech there before the authorities, representatives of civil society, and the diplomatic corps, in the mosque's conference center.
By visiting Annaba, formerly known as Hippo Regius, the Pope will follow in the footsteps of Saint Augustine, a major spiritual figure in Christianity. After Algeria from April 13 to 15, Pope Leo XIV will travel to Cameroon, Angola, and then Equatorial Guinea. This tour of Africa by Leo XIV, so early in his pontificate, illustrates, according to analysts, the growing importance of the African continent within the Catholic Church.
