Amid preparations for Pope Leo XIV's historic journey to Algeria, Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco described the visit as an opportunity to advance universal fraternity.
The archbishop of Algiers called Leo's upcoming trip — the first-ever by a pope to the Muslim-majority country — an effort to continue the Church's recent outreach to Islamic lands. The pope will visit four countries in Africa on his first apostolic journey to the continent April 13–23.
30 years after Tibhirine massacre, concerns over religious freedom remain
Leo's visit to the African nation will occur 30 years after the murder of seven Trappist monks from the Tibhirine monastery in 1996. Notably, as reported by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, a visit to Tibhirine has not been scheduled during his trip.
"The Holy See never requested a trip to Tibhrine," Vesco said. "This is likely because the primary focus was on St. Augustine, although the pope will visit the house of two of the martyrs of Tibhirine. Furthermore, there were time constraints. I am certain he will pay tribute to them in another way, notably during the meeting with the Christian community at Notre Dame d'Afrique."
The shadow of the Tibhirine massacre hangs over Christians in Algeria, who continue to face obstacles to the practice of their faith. As recently reported by EWTN News, several constitutional protections for Christianity were removed from Algeria's federal constitution in 2020, in which conversions from Islam to Christianity were criminalized.
The Catholic Church has also faced restrictions. Caritas Algeria, the Church's humanitarian aid organization that served Algeria's broader population regardless of religion, was closed at the request of Algerian authorities in 2022.
Relative to other parts of the Middle East, however, Vesco said Algeria has experienced relative peace since the Tibhirine massacre.
"The peace of the entire world is threatened ... by what is happening in many regions of the world, especially in Iran and Palestine. We need to seek fraternity — to become brothers," the cardinal said.
Papal trip in line with Pope Francis, but not on interreligious dialogue
Vesco said Leo's upcoming visit would fulfill a long-held desire of Pope Francis to visit the country. However, Vesco remarked that while Leo's trip would align with Francis' pastoral priorities, it would primarily focus on common human concerns in what the cardinal called a "dialogue of life."
"Pope Leo aligns himself through this trip, and through his travels, in continuity with Pope Francis. The Holy Father will be in the midst of a Muslim people. This trip is not marked by interreligious dialogue but rather by meeting each other in our humanity," he said.
A trip in the footsteps of St. Augustine
During his trip, Pope Leo, the former prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, will make a highly symbolic stop in Annaba, formerly known as Hippo, where St. Augustine served as bishop in the fifth century. Vesco hailed the saint as an important figure in both Algerian and Christian history.
"St. Augustine ... recalls Algeria's deep and diverse history. He is truly a son of that land, and the Algerian people know it and are proud of it," Vesco said. "At the same time, indeed, he is a figure of ancient Christian thought, and ultimately, the search for truth that brings us all together."
