Pope Leon XIV, “A Son of Saint Augustine,” Lauds President Tebboune and Expresses Desire to Visit Algeria

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

In a Heartfelt Message of Gratitude, the Pontiff Thanks President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for His Congratulations and Reaffirms His Spiritual Ties to Algeria, Land of Saint Augustine

Algiers, Algeria | May 16th, 2025 —  In a historic gesture of goodwill, Pope Leon XIV expressed his heartfelt appreciation to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for his message of congratulations following the Pope’s election as the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. In his reply, Pope Leon XIV went further, stating his sincere wish to visit Algeria — the land that gave birth to Saint Augustine, one of the most influential figures in Christian theology and a cornerstone of the Catholic intellectual tradition.

The news was announced on Friday by Algerian national television, citing official diplomatic sources. The message from the pope was personally conveyed by Algeria’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Rachid Bladehane, who represented Algeria at the inaugural mass of Pope Leon XIV at the Vatican.

During the solemn occasion, Ambassador Bladehane reiterated Algeria’s warm congratulations on behalf of President Tebboune and the Algerian people. He underscored the President’s commitment to the foundational principles of “Peace, Justice, and Truth”, which serve as the pillars of Algeria’s domestic and international policy under his leadership.

“The Ambassador also emphasized the significance of dialogue and interfaith understanding as a path to global harmony,” stated the national broadcaster, highlighting Algeria’s role as a bridge between civilizations and its longstanding tradition of religious coexistence.

In a particularly moving remark made during his homily on Thursday, Pope Leon XIV declared:
“I am a son of Saint Augustine, who once said, ‘With you I am a Christian, for you I am a bishop.’”
With these words, the new Pontiff evoked a deeply personal and spiritual connection to Algeria — not only as the birthplace of Saint Augustine of Hippo but also as a source of profound theological and philosophical heritage that continues to shape the moral teachings of the Church.

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