Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria on Monday, the first stop of a marathon trip that will take him to four African countries over 11 days.

Leo is the first pope to ever set foot in Algeria, which is home to a tiny Catholic population of around 8,000.

Later, he will travel to Cameroon and Angola before wrapping up his trip in Equatorial Guinea.

Christian-Muslim relations will be high on his agenda. Africa is a continent where the Catholic Church is growing and where the church frequently plays an influential role in civil society through education and healthcare and helping to mediate in conflicts. According to Vatican statistics, Catholics on the continent now make up around 20% of believers worldwide.

Leo lays a wreath as he visits the Martyrs' Memorial in El Madania, Algeria, on Monday. The monument was built to remember those who died in Algeria's war of independence.
Leo lays a wreath as he visits the Martyrs' Memorial in El Madania, Algeria, on Monday. The monument was built to remember those who died in Algeria's war of independence.
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
People listen to the pope's speech at the Martyrs' Memorial.
People listen to the pope's speech at the Martyrs' Memorial.
Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
Leo disembarks from his plane after landing in Algeria.
Leo disembarks from his plane after landing in Algeria.
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
The pope speaks to the press during his flight to Algeria. Leo has been <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F04%2F04%2Fmiddleeast%2Fpope-leo-iran-war-analysis-latam-intl">speaking out lately</a> against the current conflict in the Middle East, saying God can’t be used to justify war. US President Donald Trump <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F04%2F12%2Fpolitics%2Ftrump-pope-leo-criticism-hnk-intl">criticized the pope</a> in a post on Truth Social, describing the pontiff as “terrible for Foreign Policy” and saying that “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.” Aboard his plane Monday, Leo said, “The things I say are not meant as attacks on anyone,” but added, “I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel.”
The pope speaks to the press during his flight to Algeria. Leo has been speaking out lately against the current conflict in the Middle East, saying God can’t be used to justify war. US President Donald Trump criticized the pope in a post on Truth Social, describing the pontiff as “terrible for Foreign Policy” and saying that “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.” Aboard his plane Monday, Leo said, “The things I say are not meant as attacks on anyone,” but added, “I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel.”
Matteo Pernaselci/Vatican Pool/Getty Images