Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune will meet with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on July 24, 2025. This marks the first official visit by an Algerian president to the Vatican since 1999. The meeting fuels speculation about a potential papal visit to Algeria in 2026. The visit is of particular significance given the growing rumors of a possible apostolic trip to Algeria by Pope Leo XIV.
5 months ago
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was received by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday, July 24, 2025 2 3 4. This marks the first official visit by an Algerian president to the Vatican in nearly 26 years, with the last being by Abdelaziz Bouteflika in November 1999 1 4. President Tebboune had previously met Pope Francis briefly in June 2024 on the sidelines of the G7 summit 1 4.
Following his meeting with the Pope, President Tebboune also held discussions with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's Secretary of State, and Monsignor Daniel Pacho, Undersecretary for the Multilateral Sector 2 3 4. The discussions highlighted the strong diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Algeria 2 4.
During the cordial discussions, "certain aspects of the life of the Church in the country" were addressed 2 4. The Holy See and Algerian officials also referenced the current geopolitical situation and emphasized the importance of interreligious dialogue and cultural collaboration in building global peace and fraternity 2 3 4. While no specific geopolitical situations were detailed, the war in Gaza was noted as a potential common concern 4.
Algeria is a Muslim-majority nation with a small Catholic minority, predominantly composed of migrants and expatriates 4. The Catholic Church in Algeria has experienced growing visibility in recent years 1. A significant event was the beatification of the monks of Tibhirine and Bishop Pierre Claverie in 2018, which was seen as a "cathartic" moment for the Algerian population traumatized by the 1990s civil war 1.
Despite this increased visibility, the Church faces administrative challenges, such as the cessation of Caritas activities in October 2022 due to its classification as an "unauthorized NGO" 1 4. However, a visit by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher in late 2022 helped improve relations, allowing the Church to continue social and humanitarian work in a different legal form 1 4. Conversions to Christianity, though not formally prohibited, are rare and handled with caution within the Catholic Church, unlike the more explicit proselytism of Evangelical communities 1.
A prominent theme in the discussions and the broader context of the visit is the figure of St. Augustine 1 4. St. Augustine, who was bishop of Hippo (modern-day Annaba) from 396 to 430, is a popular figure in Algeria, particularly within intellectual circles 1 4. Pope Leo XIV, being from the Augustinian spiritual family, regularly refers to St. Augustine 1 4.
This shared heritage is reflected in the Algerian state's support for the restoration of St. Augustine's basilica in Annaba between 2010 and 2013, a project also backed by France and Pope Benedict XVI 1 4. During his 1999 visit, former President Bouteflika presented John Paul II with a statuette of St. Augustine as a child, underscoring his significance 1 4.
Rumors are circulating about a possible apostolic trip by Pope Leo XIV to Algeria in 2026, which would be a historic first for a pope 1 4. Such a visit could take the form of a pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Augustine 1. The year 2026 would also mark the 30th anniversary of the assassination of the Tibhirine monks and Bishop Pierre Claverie 1 4.
The current Pope, as Robert Francis Prevost, previously visited Algeria as Prior General of the Augustinians, participating in a symposium in St. Augustine's birthplace and the basilica's inauguration 4. While a papal visit remains hypothetical, requiring several months of preparation and negotiation, it could significantly strengthen Algeria's international standing 1 4.
President Tebboune's visit to the Vatican is part of Algeria's broader diplomatic efforts to forge closer ties with Italy 1 3. This rapprochement, driven by Italy's need to diversify energy sources away from Russia, has led to several trade agreements and visits 1 3. The visit also serves to counterbalance Algeria's strained relations with France 1.
The Algerian President and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have announced efforts to register sites linked to St. Augustine on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, further highlighting the shared cultural heritage between the two Mediterranean nations 3.
How does the Church engage in interreligious dialogue and peace?
The Catholic Church engages in interreligious dialogue and promotes peace through various means, primarily guided by the principles laid out in the Second Vatican Council's Declaration Nostra Aetate . This engagement is seen as an essential part of the Church's mission and a response to the growing interdependence of peoples and the human search for meaning .
The Second Vatican Council marked a significant shift in the Church's approach to other religions, fostering a deeper commitment to dialogue and cooperation . Key documents from the Council, including Lumen Gentium, Gaudium et Spes, Ad Gentes, Nostra Aetate, and Dignitatis Humanae, provided the theological and pastoral foundations for this engagement .
Nostra Aetate is particularly significant, as it laid the groundwork for a new style of dialogue . It emphasizes the common origin and destiny of humanity, recognizing the uniqueness of the human family and the shared search for God or the Absolute across various ethnicities and cultures . The Church's benevolent and attentive gaze on religions means that "she rejects nothing that is beautiful and true in them" and regards believers of all religions with esteem, appreciating their spiritual and moral commitment .
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (originally established as the Secretariat for Non-Christians by Pope Paul VI in 1964) is the primary Vatican dicastery responsible for fostering interreligious dialogue . Its mandate is to ensure that dialogue is conducted appropriately and to encourage various forms of contact with followers of other religions .
The aims of this dialogue include:
The Church views interreligious dialogue as crucial for fostering relationships of universal fraternity and promoting peace, especially in an increasingly globalized world . Pope Benedict XVI highlighted that authentic religiosity can foster universal brotherhood, and in secularized societies, it is vital for religions to promote a mentality that sees God as the foundation of all good, the source of moral life, and the bulwark of profound universal brotherhood .
The Judeo-Christian tradition, for instance, offers a powerful witness to God's love for all peoples, desiring to gather them into a single universal family . This connection between a relationship with God and the ethics of love for everyone is also found in many other great religious traditions .
In summary, the Catholic Church engages in interreligious dialogue as a fundamental aspect of its saving mission, rooted in the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, particularly Nostra Aetate . This engagement, facilitated by bodies like the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, aims to foster mutual understanding, promote shared human values, and contribute to global peace by emphasizing the commonalities and shared aspirations of humanity while remaining faithful to its own truths .