Pope Leo XIV calls for "forgiveness" during historic visit to Algeria

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria for a historic two-day visit, the first by a pope to the Muslim-majority country, calling for "forgiveness" upon his arrival. The visit comes amid international tensions and criticism from US President Donald Trump, who called the Pope "WEAK" and "catastrophic in foreign policy" on Truth Social. The Pope, on his flight from Rome to Algiers, stated he had no intention of debating Trump and was not afraid of his administration. Italian and American bishops have supported the Pope, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wished him a fruitful trip. On his first day, Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to victims of the Algerian War of Independence against France 1954-62 at the Martyrs' Monument in Algiers, laying a wreath of white roses. He emphasized that "peace that allows us to look to the future with a reconciled spirit is only possible through forgiveness," urging against adding "resentment to resentment, from generation to generation." The Pope was welcomed by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and delivered a speech to authorities and the diplomatic corps. He is scheduled to visit the Great Mosque and the Notre-Dame d'Afrique Basilica. The visit includes an interreligious celebration where he will call for fraternity in a country where Sunni Islam is the state religion and Catholics are a small minority. This trip marks the beginning of the 70-year-old Pope's first major international tour, which will also take him to Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial G