The pontiff called for a world order that does not exclude the vulnerable and urged leaders to serve the common good.<\/p>\n
ALGIERS, Algeria \u2014 Pope Leo XIV on Monday presented himself to Algeria\u2019s diplomatic corps and civil society as \u201ca pilgrim of peace,\u201d urging a more just international order, warning against exclusion and inequality, and praising those who refuse to be \u201cblinded by power or wealth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peace remained the central theme of the pope\u2019s first day in Algeria, following his earlier stop at the Martyrs\u2019 Memorial, where he delivered an appeal for peace and reconciliation.<\/p>\n
Speaking in French at the Djamaa el Djazair Conference Center, Leo recalled his previous visits to Algeria in 2001 and 2013 to Annaba, the ancient see of St. Augustine, whose spiritual legacy has long shaped the Augustinian order to which the pope belongs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am here among you as a pilgrim of peace, eager to meet the noble Algerian people,\u201d the pope said. \u201cWe are brothers and sisters, for we have the same Father in heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo said the \u201cprofound religious sense of the Algerian people\u201d fosters \u201ca culture of encounter and reconciliation,\u201d adding that his visit also seeks to be a sign of that spirit.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a world full of conflicts and misunderstandings, let us meet and strive for mutual understanding, recognizing that we are one family!\u201d he said. \u201cToday, the simplicity of this awareness is the key to opening many doors that are closed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Addressing an audience of about 1,400 people from civil society and the diplomatic corps, the pope praised the resilience of the Algerian people, saying they had never been defeated by their trials because of their spirit of solidarity, hospitality, and community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are the truly strong ones, to whom the future belongs: those who do not allow themselves to be blinded by power or wealth, and those who refuse to sacrifice the dignity of their fellow citizens for the sake of personal or collective gain,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Leo also highlighted the Algerian understanding of hospitality and almsgiving, reflected in the word \u201csadaka,\u201d which he noted can also mean justice.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one who accumulates wealth and remains indifferent to others is unjust,\u201d the pope said, calling this vision of justice both \u201csimple and radical\u201d because it recognizes the image of God in others. \u201cIndeed, a religion without mercy and a society without solidarity are a scandal in God\u2019s eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the same time, he warned that many societies that consider themselves advanced are falling ever deeper into inequality and exclusion, while \u201cpeople and organizations that dominate others destroy the world.\u201d He said Africa knows this reality well and suggested that Algeria\u2019s historical experience gives it a critical perspective on global power balances.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you are able to engage in dialogue regarding the concerns of all and show solidarity with the sufferings of so many countries near and far, then you will be able to contribute to both envisioning and bringing about greater justice among peoples,\u201d Leo said.<\/p>\n
He added that this task is especially urgent \u201cin the face of continuous violations of international law and neocolonial tendencies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drawing on the teaching of Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, Leo called on Algeria\u2019s authorities not to fear a broader social participation by those on the margins.<\/p>\n
\u201cI therefore urge those of you who hold positions of authority in this country not to fear this outlook but to promote a vibrant, dynamic, and free civil society, in which young people in particular are recognized as capable of helping to broaden the horizon of hope for all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe true strength of a nation lies in the cooperation of everyone in pursuing the common good,\u201d he continued. \u201cAuthorities are called not to dominate but to serve the people and foster their development.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pope also pointed to Algeria\u2019s unique role as \u201ca bridge between North and South, and between East and West,\u201d describing the Mediterranean and the Sahara as geographical and spiritual crossroads rich with human and cultural meaning.<\/p>\n
\u201cWoe to us if we turn them into graveyards where hope also dies!\u201d he said. \u201cLet us multiply oases of peace; let us denounce and remove the causes of despair; and let us oppose those who profit from the misfortune of others!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor illicit are the gains of those who exploit human life, whose dignity is inviolable,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Leo then broadened his reflection to the place of religion in modern society, noting that Algeria, like much of the world, experiences tensions between religious sensibility and modern life. He warned against both fundamentalism and secularization when they distort the true sense of God and human dignity.<\/p>\n
\u201cReligious symbols and words can become, on the one hand, blasphemous languages of violence and oppression, or on the other, empty signs in the immense marketplace of consumption that does not satisfy us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Still, the pope insisted that such polarization should not lead to despair.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must educate people in critical thinking and freedom, in listening and dialogue, and in the trust that leads us to recognize in those who are different fellow travelers and not threats,\u201d he said. \u201cWe must work toward the healing of memory and reconciliation among former adversaries.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his introduction, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune called Leo\u2019s presence the first visit of a pope to Algeria and said it gave the occasion \u201ca unique resonance.\u201d He invoked both St. Augustine and Emir Abdelkader as enduring models at a time of accelerating change and weakening moral values.<\/p>\n
Tebboune also praised the pope\u2019s moral authority and his support for social justice while reaffirming Algeria\u2019s commitment to working with the Holy Father to promote dialogue, coexistence, and cooperation over division and conflict.<\/p>\n
Marco Mancini contributed to this article. This story\u00a0was first published\u00a0by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.<\/p>\n