Pope Leo XIV salutes Algerian hospitality, calls for global peace
BY Dr. Hana Saada
In Annaba, Pope Leo XIV delivered a message that combined formal gratitude with a broader moral appeal, situating his visit within a wider reflection on peace and international responsibility.
Speaking during a mass at the Basilica of Saint Augustine, the pontiff expressed his “very special thanks” to the Algerian authorities for the reception and hospitality extended to him during his official visit to the country. His remarks extended beyond institutional courtesy, encompassing a more inclusive acknowledgment of the welcome he had received. “My thanks to each and every one for the welcome that has been given to me,” he stated, before reiterating his appreciation for the hospitality afforded by Algeria.
The choice of Annaba as the setting of this address carried implicit historical resonance. Associated with the legacy of Saint Augustine of Hippo, the city has long occupied a distinctive place within the intellectual and spiritual history of the Mediterranean. In this context, the Pope’s words acquired a layer of continuity, connecting present diplomatic engagement with a deeper civilisational memory.
Beyond expressions of gratitude, the pontiff turned to the state of the contemporary world, marked, in his framing, by tension and fragmentation. He renewed his call for peace, urging adherence to what he described as “the paths of justice and communion.” The formulation reflects a conception of peace grounded not in abstraction, but in ethical practice—one that presupposes responsibility, balance and mutual recognition between societies.
The address formed part of the second day of the Pope’s official visit to Algeria, undertaken at the invitation of Abdelmadjid Tebboune. His arrival at the basilica in the afternoon underscored the symbolic dimension of the visit, where religious space, historical reference and diplomatic gesture intersect.
In this sense, the Pope’s remarks in Annaba can be read as both acknowledgment and appeal: acknowledgment of Algeria’s hospitality and historical depth, and appeal for a renewed commitment to peace at a moment when the global order appears increasingly strained.
— 𝐄𝐍𝐃 —
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