Pope Leo XIV arrived today in the Algerian city of Annaba, on the second day of his historic visit to the country, following in the footsteps of his spiritual father, Saint Augustine, who lived on this land in the fourth century AD and accomplished his most prominent works there, which are still considered a theological reference for the Catholic Church to this day. The city, located about 560 kilometers east of the Algerian capital, is home to his famous church.
This second stop on the Pope’s visit to Algeria carries a special symbolism, as it reconnects the present with deep intellectual and spiritual roots, since Saint Augustine lived a large part of his life in the city of Hippo Regius (present-day Annaba), and left there an intellectual and philosophical legacy that is still strongly present in the religious and cultural memory of the world.
The Pope’s first stop was his visit to Annaba, the archaeological site of Hippo Regius, which evokes a pivotal stage in the life of Augustine, who lived and taught in this city, before he turned to social institutions of a humanitarian nature, in reference to the solidarity dimension that characterizes his visit.
He will meet with members of the Augustinian Order, in a stop that reflects the depth of the spiritual connection between the Pope and this school of thought, before presiding over a mass at the Church of St. Augustine, in a moment described as the most prominent in this visit, due to its religious and historical symbolism.
Pope Leo XIV is one of the most prominent figures influenced by this great personality. As soon as he was installed as head of the Catholic Church in May 2025, he declared that he was “Augustine in method” and said that Augustine was his spiritual father.
The words of the newly appointed papal consul sparked a wave of global and regional interest in Augustine, who lived 16 centuries ago in Algeria and whose theological and philosophical thought influenced much of Western Christian thought. Saint Augustine (354-430 AD) is one of the most prominent figures in Christian thought and philosophy throughout history. He was born in the city of Thagaste, located today in Souk Ahras in eastern Algeria, and spent a significant part of his life in Hippo Regius, now known as Annaba.
Augustine is considered one of the "Four Fathers of the Latin Church" and had a profound influence on the formation of Western Christian doctrine. He combined philosophical rationalism, influenced by Plato, with Christian thought, formulating a comprehensive theological and philosophical vision that remained a reference point for centuries. His writings, such as "Confessions" and "City of God," are still taught today in major universities and seminaries and are considered fundamental intellectual cornerstones of Western Christian civilization.
In conjunction with this visit, the Algerian authorities launched initiatives aimed at promoting Augustine’s legacy, by working to include sites associated with his route on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
As part of these efforts, the “Augustine Trails” project was launched, which includes a number of archaeological sites related to the life of Augustine, such as Hippo Regius in Annaba, Thagaste in Souk Ahras, and Madaurus in M’daourouch, in addition to other sites across the country, in an effort to highlight this heritage in its national and global dimension.
Work is also underway to establish a center for Augustinian studies, with the aim of supporting academic research and deepening knowledge of this figure, considered one of the most prominent figures in human thought. This initiative reflects an official trend toward re-examining this legacy within a national context, highlighting the diversity of Algerian history and the multiplicity of its cultural components.
In parallel with this dynamic, the debate continues in Algeria about Augustine’s place in national history, where multiple readings intersect between those who see him as a civilizational symbol reflecting the depth and diversity of history, and those who call for a critical approach that takes into account the historical and political contexts associated with this figure.
The first day of the Pope's visit to Algeria witnessed a clear emphasis on the symbolism of Augustine, and on the shared values that unite Algeria and the Vatican.
The two sides' positions converged on international issues, with President Tebboune praising the Pope's stance on the Gaza tragedy and emphasizing that Algeria's positions aligned with the Vatican's calls for justice for the Palestinian people.
In his speech at the Grand Mosque of Algiers, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune welcomed the Pope, stressing that Algeria “cherishes the legacy of Saint Augustine, just as it cherishes the legacy of Emir Abdelkader,” describing him as “one of the greatest figures of human thought in the history of mankind,” in reference to his place in the national memory.
For his part, Pope Leo XIV stressed in his speech at Riad El Feth Square that “the future is in the hands of men and women who make peace,” affirming that “justice will always triumph over injustice,” and that “violence, despite all appearances, will never have the last word,” considering that mutual respect is the path that enables peoples to walk together.
The two sides also converged on international issues, with President Tebboune commending the Pope’s stance on the Gaza tragedy, stressing that Algeria’s position aligns with the Vatican’s calls for justice for the Palestinian people and enabling them to exercise their inalienable rights.
Tebboune reiterated Algeria’s readiness to continue working with the Vatican to promote dialogue and understanding, and to strengthen the culture of coexistence and cooperation, while the Pope affirmed his commitment to the option of peace and his rejection of wars.
The most notable thing that caught the attention on the first day of the visit was the picture in which the Pope appeared with the Dean of the Grand Mosque of Algiers, Mamoun al-Qasimi, in front of the mihrab of the third largest mosque in the world in Mohammadia in Algiers, which received widespread attention from many commentators due to its great symbolism in pushing towards coexistence and dialogue between religions.
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