In Algeria, Pope calls on authorities ‘not to dominate, but serve the people’

In Algeria, Pope calls on authorities ‘not to dominate, but serve the people’ Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 04/14/2026 - 12:04 Leo XIV seized opportunity of first papal trip to the North African state to address civil liberties but also condemn ‘ongoing violations of international law’ Pope Leo XIV during a visit to the Martyrs’ Monument in El Madania, near Algiers, 13 April 2026 (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP) Off On the first day of his historic visit to Algeria on Monday, Pope Leo XIV mixed the spiritual with the political, urging local authorities to liberalise the country's political life and world leaders to abandon “neo-colonial” practices and work for peace. The American has become the first pontiff to make a papal visit to the North African country, which is the birthplace of Saint Augustine, the ancient Christian thinker who gave his name to the religious order from which the current head of the Catholic Church originates. The visit to Algeria was somewhat overshadowed by a high-profile feud with US President Donald Trump over the pontiff's opposition to the war on Iran and a failed suicide bombing near Algiers.