Algiers: Pope Leo XIV has called on leaders and societies to turn deserts and seas into places of peace and shared growth, as he began his three day apostolic visit to Algeria.
Speaking to civil authorities, members of civil society and diplomats in Algiers, the Pope said human life and dignity must always be respected and never exploited. He addressed around 1,400 people at the Djamaa el Djazair Conference Center after meeting President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
Pope described himself as a pilgrim of peace and reminded his audience that all people are brothers and sisters with one Father in heaven. He praised the Algerian people for their spirit of hospitality, solidarity and reconciliation, noting their strong tradition of helping the poor through almsgiving.
He said true justice begins when people recognise the image of God in others. A religion without mercy and a society without solidarity, he warned, are a scandal in God’s eyes.
Encouraging leaders to choose dialogue over conflict, Pope Leo said respecting human dignity and responding to the suffering of others can open a new chapter in history. He also urged authorities not to fear change but to support a free and active civil society, especially by giving young people a greater role in shaping the future.
Pope recalled the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, stressing that globalization must benefit all people through fair social and economic participation.
He said a nation becomes strong not by control but by service, where leaders work for the good of all. He also reaffirmed the commitment of the Catholic Church to support Algeria’s development and its role as a bridge between different regions of the world.
Reflecting on Algeria’s geography, the Pope spoke about the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara desert as symbols of a long history of cultural exchange. He warned that these places must not become sites of suffering and death, where hope is lost.
Instead, he called for efforts to remove the causes of despair and to stop those who take advantage of the suffering of others. He urged leaders to use their resources and wisdom to make both land and sea places of life, encounter and hope.
Pope also acknowledged tensions within society caused by both religious extremism and growing secularism. He said religion should never be used to justify violence or reduced to empty symbols without meaning.
In his final message, Pope Leo encouraged leaders not to be discouraged by divisions but to face them with wisdom. He said times of tension can also be moments of renewal, where people can rediscover deeper values and find new purpose for the future.