Pope Leo XIV began his first public event in Algeria on Saturday at the Martyrs’ Monument in Algiers, laying a wreath at the site that honors those who died in the country’s war for independence from 1954 to 1962. Speaking before about 2,000 people gathered in the square, he said the visit was meant to pay tribute to Algeria and to those who fought for independence, dignity and sovereignty.
The pope said he had already been to Algeria twice, describing those earlier trips as a spiritual son of Saint Augustine, and said he was delighted to renew the bonds of affection that bring hearts closer together. He called the crowd a “strong and young people” and said friendship, trust and solidarity are the values at the heart of Algerian life, values that, in his words, “are not merely words, but values that matter and give warmth and strength to your life together.”
Leo framed Algeria as a country shaped by a long history rich in traditions but also marked by painful periods of violence. He said Algerians had overcome trials with courage and integrity, and urged them to remember that God desires peace for every nation. Peace, he said, is not just the absence of conflict but “an expression of justice and dignity,” one that comes through forgiveness and allows people to face the future “with a reconciled spirit.”
The monument visit also placed him in the middle of one of Algeria’s most loaded symbols. Maqam Echahid commemorates the dead of the independence war, and the pope repeatedly linked that memory to a broader appeal for reconciliation. He said “we cannot add resentment upon resentment, generation after generation,” and said the “true fight for liberation” will be won only when peace in people’s hearts has been achieved.
He widened the message beyond Algeria, saying the country has different cultures, religions and ways of life, and highlighting the importance of mutual respect. Leo said he hoped Algeria would continue to add to stability and dialogue on the international stage. He also said faith in God has a central place in Algeria’s heritage, adding that it illuminates each person’s life, sustains families and inspires fraternity.
The pope closed by invoking a line from the Gospel — “For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?” — and said the people honored at the monument had already given their answer. In his telling, the lesson of the day was plain: “The future belongs to men and women of peace,” and violence, he said, “will not have the last word.”
