Algerian Radio
The President of the France-Algeria Association, Ms. Ségolène Royal, welcomed on Tuesday the historic visit that Pope Leo XIV will make to Algeria next week, seeing it as a "universal message" in favor of interreligious dialogue and reconciliation between the peoples of both shores of the Mediterranean.
In a post published on social media, Ms. Royal highlighted the highly symbolic significance of this papal trip, "taking place shortly after the celebration of Easter, the most sacred feast in Christianity."
"The symbol of dialogue between religions, built on respect and fraternity, is remarkable, as after celebrating Easter, the most important feast for Christians, the Holy Father travels to Algeria, a Muslim-majority country, at the invitation of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune," she wrote.
The President of the France-Algeria Association also recalled that "the Pope is also following in the footsteps of St. Augustine, an Algerian born in Thagaste and Bishop of Hippo," whose "work deeply influenced Christian thought, particularly in France, where his writings have been studied in universities from the Middle Ages to the present day."
Ms. Royal finally emphasized the universal scope of the papal itinerary, which includes visits to iconic sites such as the Martyrs' Memorial, Djamaa el-Djazair, the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, and then to Annaba, the archaeological site of Hippo and the Basilica of St. Augustine.
"A universal message is being sent: dialogue, listening, and reconciliation are always possible in the service of the well-being of peoples, even when historical wounds are deep," she added.
