Catholic News

Full Article

Pope Leo XIV departed Monday for Algeria, the first stop on a 10-day trip to Africa that marks the third international journey of his pontificate.

The pope's April 13–23 visit will also include stops in Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, making it the longest trip of his pontificate so far. After earlier visits to Turkey and Lebanon and a brief trip to the Principality of Monaco, Leo is now traveling to four African nations with distinct histories, cultures, and pastoral realities.

The first stop is Algeria, where Leo will be from April 13–15. The visit is expected to focus especially on encounter and fraternity. Catholics in Algeria number only a few thousand in a country of about 48 million Muslims.

For the first time, a pope is visiting the land of St. Augustine — a fitting destination for Leo XIV, who described himself on May 8, when he first appeared as pope from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, as "a son of St. Augustine."

From Algeria, Leo will travel April 15 to Cameroon, where he will remain until April 18. His itinerary there includes the capital, Yaoundé, as well as Douala, the country's economic center, and Bamenda, which lies at the heart of the so-called Anglophone conflict. Douala and Bamenda are also considered strongholds of political opposition to the government of President Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982.

Leo XIV will be the third pope to visit Cameroon, after St. John Paul II, who traveled there in 1985 and 1995, and Benedict XVI, who visited in 2009.

Like Benedict XVI during that 2009 trip, Leo will also visit Angola. He is scheduled to be in Luanda, Muxima, and Saurimo from April 18–21.

The pope's final stop will be Equatorial Guinea, where he will be from April 21–23 to mark the 170th anniversary of the country's evangelization.

The flight to Algeria was expected to last about two hours, with the papal plane crossing over Italy and France before arriving in Algiers.

Before his departure, Leo sent a telegram to Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

"At the moment when I am preparing to make the apostolic journey to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea," the pope wrote, "moved by the lively desire to meet the brothers and sisters in the faith and the inhabitants of those dear nations, I am pleased to address to you, Mr. President, the expression of my respectful greeting, which I accompany with fervent prayers for the good and prosperity of the entire Italian people."

This story was originally published by ACI Stampa, EWTN News' Italian-language partner agency. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Full Article

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT — Pope Leo XIV said Monday that he will continue to speak out "loudly" against war, stressing that his role is to preach the Gospel, not to enter into political disputes.

Speaking to journalists aboard the papal flight to Algiers on April 13, the pope responded to a question about a post by U.S. President Donald Trump.

"I think people who read it will be able to draw their own conclusions. I am not a politician, and I have no intention of entering into a debate with him," Leo said. "Rather, let us always seek peace and put an end to wars."

"I am not afraid of the Trump administration," he added. "I speak about the Gospel; I am not a politician. I do not think the message of the Gospel should be misused in the way some people are doing."

The pope said he would remain outspoken in condemning war and promoting peace.

"I will continue to speak out loudly against war, to seek to promote peace and multilateral dialogue among states in order to find just solutions to problems," he said. "The message of the Church is the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the peacemakers."

Leo underscored that he does not see his mission in political terms.

"I do not look at my role as that of a politician. I do not want to enter into a debate with him. Too many people are suffering in the world," he said.

The pope also reflected on the meaning of his trip to Algeria, describing it as both a personal blessing and an important opportunity for the Church and the wider world.

"As you know, I am very happy to visit once again the land of St. Augustine," he said. He noted that the saint offers "a very important bridge in interreligious dialogue" and remains deeply loved in his homeland.

Leo said the visit would allow him to see the places associated with the life of St. Augustine, including the places where he served as bishop.

"Today is truly a blessing for me personally, but I believe also for the Church and for the world, because we must always seek bridges in order to build peace and reconciliation," he said.

The trip, he added, is "a most precious opportunity" to continue proclaiming the same message with the same voice: "We want to promote peace, reconciliation, and respect and consideration for all peoples."

He concluded by thanking the journalists traveling with him.

"Welcome, everyone. I am happy to greet you," the pope said. "Have a good trip, and thank you for the service you offer to all the people."

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Full Article

Pope Leo XIV kicks off his first papal trip to Africa in Algeria on Monday, spending two days there before visiting Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.

Here are seven key things to know about the tiny but lively Catholic Church he's about to meet:

1. Catholics are a tiny flock in this huge country.

Algeria has roughly 45 million to 48 million people but only a few thousand Catholics — often estimated at no more than 10,000, a fraction of 1% of the population.

Most Catholics are expatriates, sub-Saharan African students, migrant workers, diplomats, and religious; Indigenous Algerian Catholics are very few because conversion from Islam is both sensitive culturally and regulated legally. Yet, the Church maintains dioceses, parishes, and regular sacramental life, showing a qualitative rather than numerical impact.

2. Algeria has one of the largest dioceses in the world.

The Church is organized into four jurisdictions: the Archdiocese of Algiers and the Dioceses of Oran, Constantine and Hippone, and Laghouat-Ghardaïa.

The pope is set to visit Algiers and Annaba (ancient Hippo); however, Laghouat-Ghardaïa covers a massive Sahara territory, making it one of the largest dioceses in the world by land area.

Because Catholics are so scattered, priests and religious often serve several communities at once, relying on close-knit, relational ministry more than big programs.

3. This is the homeland of St. Augustine.

Considering that the pope is a member of the Order of St. Augustine, this visit will have very special and personal moments. Algeria once hosted a vibrant Latin Christian world; its greatest son is St. Augustine of Hippo, bishop and doctor of the Church.

Annaba — a city the pope will visit — was once called Hippo Regius and is home to the Basilica of St. Augustine, which physically links the early Church to today's small Catholic community.

4. The Catholic Church in Algeria lives under a tightly regulated religious framework.

Islam is the state religion in Algeria, and while the constitution affirms freedom of conscience, non-Muslim worship is closely regulated. Non-Muslim communities must register places of worship, public proselytism is restricted, and conversion from Islam can bring serious social consequences.

Recent years have seen some closures and administrative pressures on Christian worship spaces and ministries, underscoring how fragile this small Church's institutional space is.

Despite this, the Catholic Church in Algeria runs schools, cultural centers, and charitable initiatives, often through institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life.

5. The 1990s martyrs still mark Catholic life in this country.

During Algeria's civil conflict in the 1990s, several priests, religious, and the Trappist monks of Tibhirine were killed, along with Bishop Pierre Claverie of Oran. In 2018, 19 martyrs of that period were beatified in Oran in a ceremony attended by Muslim leaders and framed as a sign of reconciliation for the whole nation.

These martyrs are remembered not as political actors but as friends who chose to stay with the Algerian people, shaping today's Catholic identity of fidelity and solidarity.

6. Interreligious dialogue is not optional but the heart of the mission.

As a tiny minority in a Muslim-majority country, the Catholic Church defines much of its mission through respectful dialogue with Islam. Priests and religious engage in academic exchanges, social projects, and cultural encounters that build trust rather than confrontation.

7. Marian devotion is a bridge amid differences.

Places like the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers have become strong symbols of coexistence, where Marian devotion is a bridge even amid deep theological differences.

This is a unique site of interreligious coexistence where many Muslims visit to pray to Mary, whom they call "Lalla Meriem."

A famous inscription behind the altar reads: "Our Lady of Africa, pray for us and for the Muslims."

Full Article

"Even Just One of These Children" is the title chosen by Pope Leo XIV for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which will be held on Sept. 27.

As reported by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in an April 9 statement, the title chosen by the pontiff makes direct reference to the Gospel of St. Matthew: "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me" (Mt 18:5).

In doing so, the Holy Father wishes to express the Church's concern for minors who, due to various circumstances, are compelled to undergo the experience of migration.

Through this theme, Pope Leo XIV appeals to the responsibility of the Church and of all the faithful, "recalling the duty to welcome each one of them, as the Gospel teaches us," according to the statement.

As the dicastery pointed out, the current migration landscape poses new challenges that seriously threaten the rights and dignity of children, thereby requiring urgent and effective responses.

"It is not a matter of discussing numbers or percentages, because 'even just one' has the highest value," the dicastery emphasized.

The Catholic Church has observed this day since 1914 to demonstrate its concern for vulnerable people who are forced to flee their homes.

The dicastery also invited the faithful to reflect and to pray for all those individuals facing numerous challenges and to raise awareness regarding the opportunities that migration can offer.

In his message for the 2025 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, the Holy Father affirmed that Catholic refugees "can become missionaries of hope in the countries that welcome them" while emphasizing their capacity to "revitalize ecclesial communities that have become rigid and weighed down."

On the occasion of the World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking in February, the pope also denounced the "the same logic of dominion and disregard for human life," particularly toward displaced persons, migrants, and refugees.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Full Article

ALGIERS — Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria on Monday and delivered his first address in the country at the Maqam Echahid Martyrs' Monument, where he urged forgiveness and said that "the future belongs to men and women of peace."

The visit marked the first time a pope has set foot in Algeria. After a roughly two-hour flight, Leo traveled first not to meet diplomats or civil authorities but to the national monument honoring those who died in Algeria's struggle for independence.

In intermittent rain, the pope laid a wreath at the monument and paused in prayer as a military band played. He then addressed those gathered, opening with the greeting: "Peace be with you! As-salamu alaykum!"

Leo said he had come to Algeria "as the Successor of the Apostle Peter" but "first and foremost as a brother" seeking to renew bonds of affection. Looking at the Algerian people, he said, "I see the face of a strong and young people, whose hospitality and fraternity I have experienced frequently."

"In the Algerian heart, friendship, trust and solidarity are not merely words, but values that matter and give warmth and strength to your life together," the pope said.

Reflecting on Algeria's history, Leo acknowledged both its deep traditions and its painful periods of violence. "Our presence here at this monument pays tribute to this history of Algeria and to the very spirit of a people who fought for the independence, dignity and sovereignty of this nation," he said.

The pope then turned to his central theme: peace rooted in justice, dignity, and forgiveness.

"God desires peace for every nation: a peace that is not merely an absence of conflict, but one that is an expression of justice and dignity," he said. "This peace, which allows us to face the future with a reconciled spirit, is possible only through forgiveness."

"The true struggle for liberation will be definitively won only when peace in our hearts has finally been achieved," Leo added. "I know how difficult it is to forgive. However, as conflicts continue to multiply throughout the world, we cannot add resentment upon resentment, generation after generation."

He continued: "The future belongs to men and women of peace. In the end, justice will always triumph over injustice, just as violence, despite all appearances, will never have the last word."

Speaking in a country shaped by multiple cultures and religions, Leo said "mutual respect is the path that enables everyone to walk together" and expressed hope that Algeria would continue contributing "to stability and dialogue within the international community and along the shores of the Mediterranean."

The pope also praised the place of faith in Algerian society, saying that "faith in God has a central place in your heritage."

"A nation that loves God possesses true wealth, and the Algerian people cherish this jewel as one of their treasures," he said. "Our world needs believers like this — men and women of faith who thirst for justice and unity."

Leo warned against the false promise of material wealth, saying there are those who "search for riches that fade away, deceive and disappoint, and which sadly often end up corrupting the human heart, giving rise to envy, rivalry and conflict." Quoting Christ, he asked: "For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?"

He said the dead honored at the monument had already answered that question: "They lost their lives but in doing so, they gave them up for the love of their own people."

"May their example sustain the people of Algeria and all of us on our journey, for true freedom is not merely inherited, it is chosen anew every day," the pope said.

Leo concluded by reading the Beatitudes.

The pope landed in Algiers at about 10:30 a.m. local time and was welcomed at the airport before a private greeting with Algeria's president. Because Catholics make up only a small minority in the country, the visit is not expected to feature large crowds.

Still, the city prepared carefully for the papal arrival, with some facades refreshed, roads repaved, green spaces embellished, and large flower pots placed along part of the route.

Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, archbishop of Algiers, welcomed Leo by describing the Algerian people as proud yet marked by a painful history. He said they are "strong in their youth" while still bearing the memory of martyrs from different eras, including the colonial period, the war of independence, and the violence of the 1990s and 2000s.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Full Article

President Donald Trump publicly attacked Pope Leo XIV on social media Sunday evening, calling the pontiff "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy" in a lengthy post that appeared to be reacting to the Holy Father's recent appeals for peace and an end to war.

In comments to reporters at Joint Base Andrews shortly afterward, Trump said: "I don't think he's doing a very good job. … I am not a fan of Pope Leo." He added: "He's a very liberal person."

Trump accused Leo of being soft on Iran and criticized the pope's opposition to U.S. military operations. "I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon," the president wrote. He also criticized the pope for opposing the U.S. intervention in Venezuela that ousted President Nicolás Maduro in January.

Leo has not said Iran should possess nuclear weapons. He has called the U.S.-Israel war in Iran "unjust" and on April 7 called Trump's threat to destroy an entire "civilization" in Iran "truly unacceptable."

Trump also claimed credit for Leo's election to the papacy in May 2025, writing: "He wasn't on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American." He added: "If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican."

The post on Truth Social came hours before Leo was scheduled to depart Monday for an 11-day trip to four African countries, and one day after the pope presided over a globally broadcast prayer vigil for peace at St. Peter's Basilica.

U.S. bishops' leader: Pope 'is not his rival'

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said he was "disheartened" by President Donald Trump's public attack on Pope Leo XIV, defending the pontiff as the Vicar of Christ who speaks for the Gospel and the care of souls.

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City issued a brief statement late Sunday in response to Trump's lengthy social media post calling the pope "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy."

"I am disheartened that the President chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father," Coakley said. "Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls."

The president said he preferred the pope's older brother, Louis Prevost, a Port Charlotte, Florida, resident who has described himself as a "MAGA type." "I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA," Trump wrote.

Trump also criticized Leo for meeting April 9 with David Axelrod, a former chief strategist for President Barack Obama, calling Axelrod "a LOSER from the Left." The Vatican has previously confirmed the audience but did not disclose what was discussed.

Trump also posted an image that commentators said depicted him as Jesus Christ, wearing a biblical-style robe and laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers, while admirers look on and eagles and military jets fill the sky above an American flag.

The public clash comes after weeks of growing friction between the White House and Catholic leaders since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on Feb. 28.

Pope Leo's appeals for peace intensified over Holy Week, culminating in Saturday's vigil, where he denounced a "delusion of omnipotence" and warned that "the holy Name of God" was being "dragged into discourses of death."

At a special Mass for Peace held in Washington on April 11, Cardinal Robert McElroy argued that the current war fails to meet the strict criteria of just war theory, particularly in light of civilian suffering and the risk of disproportionate harm.

The Vatican has not yet publicly responded to Trump's post. The pope is expected to arrive in Algiers on Monday.

Last updated: April 14, 2026, 00:31 a.m. ET.

Full Article

Full Article

President Donald Trump publicly attacked Pope Leo XIV on social media Sunday evening, calling the pontiff "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy" in a lengthy post that appeared to be reacting to the Holy Father's recent appeals for peace and an end to war.

In comments to reporters at Joint Base Andrews shortly afterward, Trump said: "I don't think he's doing a very good job. … I am not a fan of Pope Leo." He added: "He's a very liberal person."

Trump accused Leo of being soft on Iran and criticized the pope's opposition to U.S. military operations. "I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon," the president wrote. He also criticized the pope for opposing the U.S. intervention in Venezuela that ousted President Nicolás Maduro in January.

Leo has not said Iran should possess nuclear weapons. He has called the U.S.-Israel war in Iran "unjust" and on April 7 called Trump's threat to destroy an entire "civilization" in Iran "truly unacceptable."

Trump also claimed credit for Leo's election to the papacy in May 2025, writing: "He wasn't on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American." He added: "If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican."

The post on Truth Social came hours before Leo was scheduled to depart Monday for an 11-day trip to four African countries, and one day after the pope presided over a globally broadcast prayer vigil for peace at St. Peter's Basilica.

The president said he preferred the pope's older brother, Louis Prevost, a Port Charlotte, Florida, resident who has described himself as a "MAGA type." "I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA," Trump wrote.

Trump also criticized Leo for meeting April 9 with David Axelrod, a former chief strategist for President Barack Obama, calling Axelrod "a LOSER from the Left." The Vatican has previously confirmed the audience but did not disclose what was discussed.

Trump also posted an image that commentators said depicted him as Jesus Christ, wearing a biblical-style robe and laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers, while admirers look on and eagles and military jets fill the sky above an American flag.

The public clash comes after weeks of growing friction between the White House and Catholic leaders since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on Feb. 28.

Pope Leo's appeals for peace intensified over Holy Week, culminating in Saturday's vigil, where he denounced a "delusion of omnipotence" and warned that "the holy Name of God" was being "dragged into discourses of death."

At a special Mass for Peace held in Washington on April 11, Cardinal Robert McElroy argued that the current war fails to meet the strict criteria of just war theory, particularly in light of civilian suffering and the risk of disproportionate harm.

The Vatican has not yet publicly responded to Trump's post. The pope is expected to arrive in Algiers on Monday.

Last updated: April 13, 2026, 11:30 p.m. ET.

Full Article

"The Sunday Eucharist is indispensable for Christian life," said Pope Leo XIV before reciting the Marian prayer of the Regina Caeli on April 12 in St. Peter's Square.

Speaking to crowds gathered in the square, the pope noted his upcoming departure for Africa, where "some martyrs of the early African Church, the Martyrs of Abitene, have left us a beautiful testimony in this regard."

"Faced with the offer to save their lives on the condition that they renounce celebrating the Eucharist, they replied that they could not live without celebrating the Lord's Day. It is there that our faith is nourished and grows," the Holy Father said.

"Because it is through the Eucharist that even our hands become 'hands of the Risen One,' witnesses of his presence, of his mercy, and of his peace, in the signs of work, of sacrifices, of illness, and of the passing of the years, which are often engraved upon them — just as in the tenderness of a caress, a handshake, or a gesture of charity," he said.

In his commentary on the April 12 Gospel for the second Sunday of Easter — dedicated by Pope John Paul II to Divine Mercy — the pope spoke about the faithful's encounter with Jesus: "Where can we find him? How can we recognize him? How can we believe?"

"Certainly, it is not always easy to believe. It was not easy for Thomas, and it is not easy for us either. Faith needs to be nourished and supported. For this reason, on the 'eighth day,' that is, every Sunday, the Church invites us to do as the first disciples did: to gather together and celebrate the Eucharist as one," he said.

The pope concluded: "In a world that is in such great need of peace, this commits us more than ever to be assiduous and faithful in our Eucharistic encounter with the Risen Lord, so that we may depart from it as witnesses of charity and bearers of reconciliation."

"May the Virgin Mary help us to do this — she who is blessed because she was the first to believe without seeing," he said.

After the prayer, Pope Leo XIV returned to the theme of peace. Recalling the Easter celebration of the Orthodox Churches, he said: "I accompany those communities with even more intense prayer for all those who suffer because of the war, in particular for the dear people of Ukraine."

"May the light of Christ bring comfort to afflicted hearts and strengthen the hope of peace. May the attention of the international community toward the drama of this war not diminish. I am also more than ever close to the beloved people of Lebanon in these days of sorrow, fear, and invincible hope in God."

"The principle of humanity, inscribed in the conscience of every person and recognized in international law, entails the moral obligation to protect the civilian population from the atrocious effects of war. I appeal to the conflicting parties to cease fire and to urgently seek a peaceful solution," he said.

Next Wednesday marks three years since the beginning of the bloody conflict in Sudan. "How much the Sudanese people are suffering — innocent victims of this inhuman tragedy!" the pope said. "I renew my heartfelt appeal to the warring parties to silence the weapons and to begin, without preconditions, a sincere dialogue aimed at ending as soon as possible this fratricidal war."

The pope then greeted everyone: "I extend a warm welcome to all of you, Romans and pilgrims, especially to the faithful who have celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday at the Shrine of Santo Spirito in Sassia."

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Full Article