Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Algeria: a message to the world on the war in Iran

Christians in Algeria

Algeria does not have official data on religious minorities living in the country, but the U.S. Department of State estimates the number of Christians to be between 20,000 and 200,000 (among a population of 47 million). Christian denominations include Roman Catholics, Methodists, Seventh-day Adventists, members of the EPA (Algerian Evangelical Protestant Church), Lutherans, Calvinists, Anglicans and approximately 1,000 Egyptian Coptic Christians. The majority of Christians living in Algeria are foreign students, workers of sub-Saharan African origin or illegal immigrants. The 2022 U.S. report on international religious freedom notes that Christians in Algeria are primarily Protestants and live mainly in Algiers and other major cities along the Mediterranean coast.[1]  According to recent data from Open Doors, the number of Christians is estimated at 156,000.

The organisation also claims that in recent years, pressure from the Algerian authorities on Protestant Christians has increased to a degree not seen in decades. These churches primarily serve Algerians who have converted from Islam to Protestantism. The authorities closed some churches, while other communities were called upon to suspend their activities. All 47 churches affiliated with the EPA have suspended their activities, and other independent churches have also stopped holding services out of fear of government action.[2]

Catholics are treated with greater tolerance. They are estimated to number around 8,000, who are served by 30 parishes and 5 other centres.[3] Some of the Catholics are from European countries, while others are from African countries. The difference between them is that they do not engage in missionary work. The Catholic Church was a major institution in Algeria during the French colonial period (1830–1962). Saint Augustine of Hippo, whom the Augustinian pope greatly admires, was born in and served as bishop of Hippo Regius, Algeria.

Islamist terrorism in Algeria

After bloody clashes and decades of internal strife, Algeria defeated the threat posed by Islamist terrorism. However, smaller terrorist groups remain active in southern Algeria and occasionally carry out terrorist attacks throughout the country and in the Sahel region. An estimated 150,000 people lost their lives during the Algerian civil war (1992–2002) between the army and Islamist groups. In addition, the war also had an impact on France, where Algerian Islamists claimed responsibility for several terrorist attacks in the 1990s. One of the saddest episodes of the civil war was the 1996 massacre of the monks of Tibhirine, which fundamentally shook the relationship between the Algerian state and the Catholic community. The official position that the Armed Islamic Group was responsible for the murder of the monks in Tibhirine and other Catholic priests has been called into question by both Algerian and Western sources[4]; nevertheless, Algerian Islamist terrorism has crossed numerous red lines.

Pope Leo XIV spoke highly of the significance of the sacrifice of the 19 Algerian martyrs—including the seven Trappist monks of Tibhirine—and prayed before the crucifix of Tibhirine at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers, but he did not visit the monastery itself. The Pope did not use this visit to spark a debate about accountability. Instead, he prayed for Muslims as well, seeking unity, peace, community and dialogue.[5] As Pope Francis himself demonstrated, the Vatican’s policy toward Islam and Muslims is characterised by openness and peace. This is clearly evident in Pope Leo XIV’s reserved attitude towards the murder of the monks at Tibhirine. At the same time, this constitutes an implicit criticism of the abuse of religion and violence committed in the name of religion.

The Pope’s message of peace and the reactions

During his three-day visit to Algeria, Leo XIV held official talks with President Tebboune, visited the Martyrs’ Memorial to pay tribute to the victims of the Algerian War of Independence against France, the Great Mosque of Algiers, the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers, as well as the ancient city of Annaba (Hippo Regius) and the Basilica of Saint Augustine in Annaba. Pope Leo XIV chose the Islamic greeting “Peace be upon you” as the theme of his visit. He underlined that “God desires peace for all nations: a peace that is not merely the absence of conflict, but also an expression of justice and dignity. This peace, which allows us to look to the future with a sense of calm, is possible only through forgiveness. The true struggle for liberation can only be won once and for all when we finally make peace in our hearts. I know how hard it is to forgive, but as conflicts around the world continue to multiply, we cannot allow anger to build up from one generation to the next”. He also said that “the future belongs to men and women who love peace”.[6]

Beyond the protocol surrounding such visits and the difficult situation faced by Christians living in Algeria, the reception of the visit was extremely positive and enthusiastic, particularly in Algeria. Some view the visit as a recognition of Algeria’s role in the Mediterranean region and its past role in the struggle against colonialism. Others believe that the visit opens up new opportunities for interfaith coexistence and reconciliation. Some see Pope Leo XIV’s visit as a message of unity in a divided world.[7] Others highlighted the Pope’s call to the world for everyone to show mercy and justice in times of crisis.[8] The Pope’s message focused primarily on moral responsibility, specifically on peace between Muslims and non-Muslims, and on the need for all nations to work toward stability, justice, and dignity. Instead, the Algerian media and politicians highlighted the visit as a success for Algeria and as a veiled criticism of France. Pope Leo XIV’s message highlights how religion can foster forgiveness and mutual understanding despite a painful past and present, thereby helping to ease current political conflicts. The case of Algeria exemplifies state violence, Islamist violence and the historical burden of colonial violence. The Pope called on Algerians, as well as Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to find common resources for reconciliation and moving forward.

Power and the abuse of religion: war and peace in the Middle East

It was not so much Algeria itself, but rather the war in Iran and the dispute between Trump and Leo XIV regarding that war that made this visit significant. The pope believes that war in itself is wrong, but Trump believes that a war against Iran is necessary and justified, citing the Tehran regime’s nuclear ambitions and its crackdown on protesters. Like Pope John Paul II, who strongly opposed the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, stating that war is “always a defeat for humanity”,[9] Pope Leo XIV called for “working for peace and rejecting war”.[10]  This debate cannot be productive, since the Pope is a man of faith, while Trump is the president of the world’s most powerful nation, which dominates the world through war and economic hegemony. The two perspectives cannot agree, as they are based on different premises.

However, the exploitation of religion for the sake of power is a real problem that religion alone cannot solve. Iran and the United States have been engaged in a kind of game of escalation over the past few decades. In this scenario, as Bertrand Russell puts it, both sides are responsible for escalating the danger.[11] Thus, the root of the problem lies in the misconception that escalation and pushing risks to the limit will lead to victory, in the hope that the opponent will surrender, even if it means self-destruction. First fascism and Nazism, and then communism, tried this tactic—without success. Cuba and North Korea are prime examples of this failure. Since 1979, Islamism, in all its manifestations, including in Iran, has promoted this logic of confrontation, which has led to the decline of Muslim societies. The Pope’s approach, which rejects radical approaches to international relations and militant viewpoints, sees opportunities only in peace. This is an ethical choice that appeals to the conscience of individuals and communities. However, international politics is dominated by powerful economic actors and strategic economic interests that regard the cost of human life as a mere collateral damage. Most strategic decisions are driven by economic considerations and the pursuit of power, yet the role of religion remains a subject of debate.

Summary

Pope Leo XIV’s historic visit to Algeria marked another milestone in interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims, one that took on particular significance in the context of the Iran War and the global energy crisis it triggered. The Pope’s moral message, which emphasises reconciliation, mercy and the building of peace, stands in stark contrast to the confrontational politics of the great powers, which justify military intervention on the grounds of strategic and economic interests. Regarding the conflict in Iran, the Vatican maintains that the escalation of international tensions will not lead to peace in the long run, and that the use of religion as a tool to achieve geopolitical goals is problematic on both sides. This message is particularly relevant in the context of the visit to Algeria, where the Pope celebrated peace and interfaith dialogue in a country that has itself struggled for decades with Islamist terrorism and religious and political radicalism. The political and economic consequences of the war, namely escalating oil prices, Europe’s energy dependence and disruptions to global supply chains, demonstrate that neither confrontational superpower politics nor religious and ideological radicalism offer a sustainable solution. The Pope’s message from Algeria is therefore not merely a moral appeal, but a practical warning: peace is not just an ethical issue but a fundamental prerequisite for global stability in the 21^st century.

The situation of Christians in Algeria:

Christian communities:

• 20,000 to 200,000 Christians
• Catholics, Protestants, Copts
• Most of them are
• foreign students
• African employees
• migrants and refugees

The situation of Protestant communities:

• increasing pressure from the state
• Church closures
• Suspension of EPA congregations
• The issue of religious freedom

Situation of the Catholic Church:

• About 8,000 Catholics
• Subdued operation
• No active missionary activities
• Historical presence since the French colonial period

The Pope’s message of peace:

Central messages:

• “Peace be with you”
• Forgiveness
• Mercy
• Justice
• Dignity
• Interfaith dialogue

Main ideas:

• Peace is more than the absence of conflict
• The generational transmission of anger is dangerous
• The future belongs to communities seeking peace

Symbolic sites:

• Great Mosque
• Our Lady of Africa Basilica
• Memorial to the Martyrs
• Saint Augustine’s Basilica

International and political dimension:

Iran and the Middle East:

• Iran-US conflict
• Nuclear debate
• Risk of war escalation

Leo XIV and Donald Trump’s differing views:

• Pope:
• Anti-war position
• Diplomacy
• Moral responsibility
• Peace policy
• Trump administration:
• Military pressure
• Geopolitical interests
• Security policy approach

Religion and geopolitics:

The role of religion:

• Moral guidance
• The Opportunity for building peace
• Interfaith cooperation

Abuse of religion:

• Political legitimacy
• Ideological radicalism
• Criticism of Islamism
• Religious justification of violence

Global consequences:

• Energy crisis
• Oil price rise
• Economic instability
• Damage to supply chains

Main conclusions:

The visit to Algeria was:

• a religious event
• a diplomatic gesture
• a geopolitical message

The Pope’s main message:

• reconciliation
• peace
• coexistence
• de-escalation of conflicts

According to the analysis:

• military logic is not sustainable
• religious radicalism is a destabilising factor
• peaceful cooperation is the basis for global stability