Pope Leo XIV will travel to four African nations in April, marking the first papal visit to Algeria in history.
The Vatican announced the journey Thursday, highlighting stops in Algiers and Annaba from April 13 to 15 for symbolic reasons. Islam is Algeria’s state religion, yet the constitution allows freedom of worship, pending government approval for locations and preachers.
The visit commemorates 30 years since the beheading of seven French monks during Algeria’s brutal 1990s civil war. Leo, a member of the Augustinian order, said the trip offers an opportunity to deepen dialogue between Christians and Muslims.
Algeria is the birthplace of St Augustine, a towering fifth-century theologian, whose bishopric was centered in present-day Annaba. After Algeria, the pope will visit Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, with stops in key cities from April 15 to 23.
He is expected to advocate for peace in Angola and Cameroon, where separatist violence continues to threaten civilian lives. Before Africa, Leo will visit Monaco on March 28, marking the first modern papal trip to the small French principality.
Monaco called the visit a historic moment, symbolising dialogue, peace, and shared responsibility, endorsed by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene. In June, Leo will travel to Spain, visiting Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands between June 6 and 12.
He will inaugurate the tallest tower of the Sagrada Familia Basilica, commemorating 100 years since architect Antoni Gaudi’s death. In the Canary Islands, the pope will focus on migrant issues, visiting Tenerife and Gran Canaria amid ongoing Mediterranean migration challenges.
The announcements follow his planned domestic trips within Italy, including the island of Lampedusa, highlighting migration and humanitarian concerns across regions. The last papal visit to Africa was by Pope Francis in February 2023, who travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.