TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria on Monday at the start of an 11-day tour of four African countries.
The visit also includes stops in Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
The pontiff is the first-ever leader of the world's Catholics to visit the Muslim-majority country of Algeria, where he aims to help "build bridges between the Christian and Muslim worlds," the Archbishop of Algiers Jean-Paul Vesco told AFP.
During his African trip, Leo will focus on peace, migration, the environment, young people and the family, according to Vatican officials.
Algeria stop of a personal significance
This historic visit marks the first time a pope has traveled to Algeria. According to Vatican statistics, a small Catholic community of about 9,000 people, mostly foreigners, lives among a largely Muslim population of 47 million.
The atmosphere in Algiers is one of anticipation. Ahead of the pope's arrival on Monday morning, walls were repainted, roads repaved and green spaces decorated with plants and flowerpots, AFP reports.
The visit honors the legacy of Saint Augustine, the 4th-century theologian born in what is now the northeastern city of Annaba, formerly the Roman city of Hippo. Leo has been a member of the Order of St. Augustine for nearly 50 years and served as its head from 2001 to 2013.
Before becoming pope, Robert Francis Prevost visited Algeria twice as leader of the order. In his first speech as pope, Leo described himself as a "son" of Augustine, whose writings he frequently references.
The Pope will also pay tribute to the victims of Algeria's War of Independence against France (1954-1962) at the Martyrs Memorial overlooking the city. The war claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, with official Algerian figures estimating the number at 1.5 million, most of whom were Algerian civilians and fighters.
While the Algerian constitution recognizes "religions other than Islam" and allows worship within the bounds of public order, rights groups say repression persists. Last week, three human rights organizations urged Pope Francis to address the issue during his visit, according to AFP.
Young, rich Africa adressed by the Pope
Pope Leo, who is 70 years old, will travel 18,000 kilometers by taking 18 flights over the course of 11 days.
He is expected to speak about corruption, authoritarian rule and the responsibilities of political leaders, the Vatican said. The presidents of Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon have both been in power for decades.
The countries on Leo's itinerary are among the world's major producers of oil and minerals, including gold and diamonds. Yet large segments of their populations live in poverty. While some have seen economic growth in recent years, many continue to face conflict and instability.
In Cameroon, large crowds are expected, with about 600,000 people due to attend one of Leo's Masses. He will also address a "peace meeting" in the northwestern city of Bamenda, according to the Vatican schedule. The Anglophone region has been plagued by separatist violence.
Migration to Europe is also expected to feature prominently during the trip, as it will when Leo visits Spain in June, a key entry point for African migrants arriving by sea.
Africa the fastest growing Catholic Church
Africa accounted for more than half of the 15.8 million people baptized into the Catholic Church in 2023, according to the latest Vatican figures. The growth of Catholicism on the continent continues to outpace overall population growth, with more than 288 million Catholics recorded in 2024.
The Catholic Church in Africa faces several challenges, among which are cultural norms of polygamy. Catholic doctrine dictates that marriage is a monogamous, lifelong union between one man and one woman.
Ethnic rivalries pose another challenge, particularly in the appointment of bishops in ethnically diverse regions. In some cases, nominations have been rejected by priests or the faithful, Vatican missionaries told AP.
John Paul II, pope from 1978 to 2005, visited Africa 15 times. Pope Francis traveled to the continent five times during his pontificate.
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