ALGERIA April 13, 2026 – Pope Leo XIV has issued a powerful call for unity between Christians and Muslims during his landmark Apostolic Journey to Algeria, the first-ever visit by a pontiff to the North African nation.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) from the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers, the Holy Father declared:
“Communion between Christians and Muslims takes shape under the mantle of Our Lady of Africa. Here, in #Algeria, the maternal love of Lalla Meryem gathers everyone as children, within our rich diversity, in our shared aspiration for dignity, love, justice, and peace. In a world where division and wars sow pain and death, living in unity and peace is a compelling sign.” #ApostolicJourney
The remarks were made while addressing the local Catholic community at the historic basilica, which overlooks the Bay of Algiers and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the title “Our Lady of Africa” (Lalla Meryem in Arabic). The Pope described Mary as a maternal figure who unites believers of both faiths in a spirit of shared humanity.
The visit holds deep symbolic importance. Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff and a member of the Augustinian order, is following in the spiritual footsteps of St. Augustine of Hippo, the early Church Father born in what is now Algeria. The trip marks the start of a broader Apostolic Journey across Africa aimed at strengthening the small Catholic communities in the region and promoting interfaith dialogue in predominantly Muslim societies.
During the visit, the Pope also paid a visit to the Grand Mosque of Algiers, one of the largest in Africa, further underscoring themes of encounter and peace.
The message comes amid global challenges of division and conflict, with the Pontiff emphasizing that “living in unity and peace is a compelling sign” for the world.
The full Apostolic Journey continues to other African nations, with Vatican observers describing the Algeria leg as a milestone in Catholic-Muslim relations on the continent.
Life News Agency will continue to monitor developments from the Apostolic Journey.
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