- Pope Leo XIV has embarked on the first-ever papal trip to Algeria, with the primary aim of promoting Christian-Muslim coexistence and honouring St. Augustine, a significant figure in his religious spirituality who was born in the region.
- This two-day stop in Algeria marks the beginning of an intensive 11-day tour across four African nations, representing a notable journey for the first US-born Pope into the expanding Catholic Church in Africa.
- During his visit, Leo is scheduled to meet Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, address local authorities, visit the city's Great Mosque, and attend a gathering at the Our Lady of Africa basilica.
- The trip's overarching theme, encapsulated by the motto 'Peace be with you', focuses on fostering peace and interfaith harmony, particularly within Algeria's context of a small Catholic community alongside a large Muslim majority.
- Leo will also pay homage to 19 Catholic martyrs killed during Algeria's civil war in the 1990s and visit Annaba, the modern-day Hippo, where St. Augustine served as bishop, underscoring the personal and pastoral significance of his journey.
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