Pope Leo XIV has set his sights on Africa for his next international journey, announcing plans to begin a 2026 tour with a stop in Algeria.
Speaking to journalists aboard the papal plane as he wrapped up his first foreign trip as pontiff, the U.S.-born pope said Africa is “very high” on his list of priorities and could become his next overseas destination.
“I hope to make a trip to Africa, which could be my next trip,” he said during the in-flight press conference following a six-day visit to Turkey and Lebanon. “Personally, I hope to go to Algeria to visit the places linked to the life of Saint Augustine”, he added, referring to the influential fifth-century theologian born in Tagaste, modern-day Souk Ahras in northeastern Algeria.
A visit to Algeria would carry strong symbolic significance. Though Christians make up a small minority there, the country preserves some of early Christianity’s most important sites, including the ancient city of Hippo (now Annaba), where Augustine served as bishop for more than 30 years.
No pope has visited Algeria since John Paul II’s brief stop in 2003, and a return would highlight the Vatican’s ongoing efforts to promote interfaith dialogue in North Africa.
Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly emphasized Africa’s expanding role within global Catholicism, noting that the continent is home to some of the church’s fastest-growing communities.
A 2026 tour would likely include additional stops beyond Algeria, with the Vatican expected to highlight issues such as humanitarian relief, migration, and peacebuilding across the region.
