Pope Leo XIV began a historic visit to Algeria on Monday, the first ever by a pontiff, in a move carrying profound political and religious significance.
From the plane that carried him to Algeria, the Pope addressed the controversy surrounding his relationship with the US administration, affirming that he “does not fear the administration of President Donald Trump.”
🇻🇦 🇩🇿 Pope Leo XIV has begun a landmark visit to Algeria in the first trip to the Muslim-majority country by a pontiff that risked being overshadowed by criticism from US President Donald Trump.
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 13, 2026
➡️ https://t.co/jy6oeBVkv3 pic.twitter.com/nPE5shnjiO
A Message of Peace, Beyond Politics
In his remarks, the American-born Pope responded to Trump’s criticism, saying, “I am not a politician, and I have no intention of engaging in a debate with him.” He explained that the essence of his mission lies in “spreading peace,” emphasizing that this message remains steadfast regardless of political pressures.
Pope Leo has responded to Trump's criticism, telling Reuters he will continue to denounce war and warning that the Christian message — rooted in the primacy of peace — is being 'abused' https://t.co/lFHH47dHrg pic.twitter.com/zGOlwXHrwK
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 13, 2026
Pope Leo: The Algerian People Struggled for the Nation’s Honor
The Pope delivered a heartfelt address at the Martyrs’ Memorial in Algiers, expressing his gratitude for visiting the country for the second time as the “Successor of Peter.” He emphasized that he came “as a brother to renew the bonds of brotherhood and love” with the Algerian people, whose hospitality he deeply appreciated.
The Pope considered his visit to the Martyrs’ Memorial “a tribute to Algeria and its people who struggled for the nation’s honor,” stressing that the peace God desires for every nation is not merely the absence of conflict, but rather “an expression of justice and dignity.”
In a message for the future, the Pope called for a “good heart” that transcends hatred, affirming that “the true struggle” today lies in the capacity for forgiveness, to ensure that hatred does not persist between generations.
The papal plane landed at Houari Boumediene Airport in the Algerian capital, where the Pope began his visit with a strong symbolic gesture: commemorating the victims of the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962), reflecting a papal approach to promoting interfaith dialogue and honoring the national memory of peoples.
Yesterday, President Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV, calling him “weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy,” adding that he speaks of “fear” of the Trump administration without mentioning what he described as the fear experienced by the Catholic Church and other Christian institutions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Following an attack on Pope Leo XIV in which he described him as someone who "likes crimes," US President Trump posted an image on Truth Social depicting himself as Jesus Christ. pic.twitter.com/TmSSw2bHGe
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) April 13, 2026
The Pope, on Sunday, expressed his sympathy for the people of Lebanon, saying there is a “moral obligation” to protect them.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)