Leo to become first pope to visit Muslim AlgeriaVATICAN CITY, April 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Leo XIV will become the first pope to visit Algeria on Monday, taking a message of dialogue with Islam on a trip that also represents a personal pilgrimage for the American pontiff. The visit also holds a strong personal dimension for Pope Leo, as modern-day Algeria was home to Saint Augustine (354-430), a great Christian theologian whose spiritual legacy permeates his pontificate. In Algiers Monday morning, Pope Leo will meet with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and deliver a speech to the authorities and the diplomatic corps. From the moment he became pope on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis, Leo has presented himself as a "son" of the famed theologian. "With the Holy Father's visit... the whole world will see the hospitality and generosity of the Algerian people," said Wekesa.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha April 11, 2026 03:45 UTC