Pope Leo XIV landed in Algiers on Monday morning, becoming the first pope to visit the Muslim-majority North African nation. The trip opens an 11-day, four-country tour that the Vatican has called his most ambitious apostolic journey yet.
Why it matters: Africa is home to more than a fifth of the world’s Catholics, and the continent’s rapidly growing population makes it central to the church’s future. The visit signals the Vatican’s strategic pivot toward the Global South.
The itinerary
After two days in Algeria, Leo will travel to Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. The tour spans nearly 18,000 kilometres across 18 flights and 11 cities. The Vatican has planned 25 speeches over the 11 days.
The largest event is expected in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday, where the Vatican projects 600,000 people will attend an open-air mass.
Themes and agenda
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said Leo will address Christian-Muslim coexistence, the exploitation of Africa’s natural and human resources, corruption, and migration. In Algeria, he will honour St. Augustine, the fourth-century theologian born in what is now eastern Algeria.
Political backdrop
The tour comes days after a public clash between Leo and US President Donald Trump. The pope called for peace in the Iran conflict, prompting Trump to call him “weak.” Speaking to journalists aboard the papal plane, Leo said the Vatican’s appeals for peace are rooted in the Gospel and that he does not fear the Trump administration.