Pope Leo XIV Lands in Algeria for Historic Africa Tour Amid Trump Criticism and Global Tensions

Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Algeria at the start of a landmark 11-day tour of Africa, marking a historic first visit by a leader of the world’s Catholics to the North African nation, even as his trip is overshadowed by sharp political criticism from US President Donald Trump.

The pontiff’s arrival in Algiers on Monday sets the tone for a four-nation tour covering Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. The Vatican says the journey is aimed at strengthening interfaith relations and supporting Christian communities across the continent.

A key highlight of the visit is Algeria, where Pope Leo is expected to promote dialogue between Christianity and Islam. Archbishop of Algiers Jean-Paul Vesco said the pope’s mission is focused on “building bridges between the Christian and Muslim worlds,” underscoring the symbolic weight of the trip.

However, the visit comes amid unusually direct criticism from President Donald Trump, who publicly questioned the pope’s stance on the Iran conflict. Trump, speaking before the pope’s departure from Rome, accused him of “toying” with Iran and said he was “not a big fan” of the pontiff.

The US president also suggested that Leo’s election in May 2025 may have been influenced by his American nationality, and later posted an AI-generated image appearing to depict himself as Jesus Christ — a move that has sparked widespread commentary online.

Pope Leo has previously described threats against civilians in Iran as “unacceptable,” though he did not mention Trump by name. He has also been critical of the treatment of migrants under the current US administration.

Despite the political tension, the trip has received support from international leaders. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a statement wishing the pope success, saying she hopes his mission will contribute to peacebuilding and conflict resolution across nations.

In Algeria, preparations for the papal visit have been extensive, with roads repaved, public spaces decorated, and security heightened ahead of what is being described as a historic moment for the country.

The visit carries deep personal meaning for Pope Leo, who belongs to the Augustinian order inspired by Saint Augustine — a key figure in Christian theology who lived in ancient Hippo, now the Algerian city of Annaba.

During his stay, the pope is expected to meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, address diplomats, and visit key religious and historical sites, including the Great Mosque of Algiers and the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa overlooking the capital.

He is also expected to pray privately at a chapel dedicated to victims of Algeria’s civil war, a conflict that claimed an estimated 200,000 lives between Islamist groups and government forces in the 1990s.

The trip will not include a visit to the Tibhirine monastery, where monks were abducted and killed in 1996 — an incident that remains one of the most sensitive episodes in Algeria’s modern history.

Pope Leo’s 18,000-kilometre tour is expected to continue across Central and Southern Africa, with the Vatican describing the journey as a mission of peace, dialogue, and solidarity with Christian communities in the region.