As Pope Leo XIV prepares for his first African trip 13-23 April, church leaders in Algeria say the visit could highlight Christianity as a positive presence in the largely Muslim nation.
Bishop Michel Guillaud of Constantine-Hippone said the pope’s stop in the country, which is a birthplace of St Augustine of Hippo, will show that Christians are “an asset, not a danger.”
The pontiff will celebrate Mass 14 April in Annaba at the historic Basilica of Hippo, where Augustine served as bishop from 396 to 430. Algeria’s population is about 99 per cent Sunni Muslim.
According to the Annuario Pontificio, the country has just 8,740 Catholics among more than 45 million people. Bishop Guillaud said small Christian communities – often just 15 to 50 people – face long travel distances, language barriers and social pressure.
Still, many believers see the pope’s visit as a hopeful sign for dialogue, peace and greater acceptance of religious differences in Algerian society.
The bishop underlined that the main task of Catholic priests in Algeria is “to support Christians and maintain fraternal ties with Muslims.”
“The Catholic Church is the custodian of a treasure in the Eucharist and the apostolic ministry,” Bishop Guillaud stressed.
