Pope Leo XIV at Algiers basilica calls for fraternity as faith is framed as bridge in divided world
By Dr. Hana Saada
Atop the heights of Algiers, overlooking the Mediterranean, the Basilica of Notre-Dame d’Afrique became on Monday the setting for a significant moment in Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Algeria, as the pontiff delivered remarks centred on faith, fraternity, and the urgency of dialogue.
Addressing an audience composed of Catholic clergy, including priests and bishops, alongside members of Algeria’s Muslim community and civil society, the Pope situated his message within a broader concern over global instability. He lamented a world “torn apart by war,” calling for renewed attention to spiritual and ethical foundations in international life.
He added that “faith makes true fraternity grow,” presenting religion as a source of connection rather than division, and as a basis for shared moral responsibility across communities.
The ceremony took place in a setting long associated with Algeria’s layered religious and cultural history, where questions of memory and coexistence remain deeply embedded. The Pope held exchanges with Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, the Archbishop of Algiers, and engaged with members of the audience in an informal and direct manner.
He also paid tribute within the basilica to the 19 Catholic religious figures killed between 1994 and 1996 during Algeria’s “black decade,” laying a candle in their memory.
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