Annaba (ancient Hippo), Algeria. Almost noon on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Rain follows the papal entourage, but nothing dampens the emotion of the moment. Pope Leo XIV, the first Augustinian pontiff in history, finally sets foot on the land he so longed for: the place where Saint Augustine, his spiritual father, lived, taught, and died.

From the very first minute, it’s clear this is no ordinary trip. Leo XIV had confessed on the plane just the day before that he wished this African pilgrimage—following in the footsteps of Augustine—to be his  first international outing  as Pope. Global events and complex logistics delayed him, but here he is, visibly moved, touring the archaeological ruins of Hippo.

She laid a wreath at the spot where the holy bishop served for years and planted an olive tree as a symbol of fraternity and hope. Simple gestures, yet laden with meaning in a continent and a world that yearn for peace.

Afterwards, the Pope visited a nursing home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. There, surrounded by humble people seeking serenity and fellowship, he delivered one of the clearest and most moving messages of the day:

“God’s heart is torn by wars, violence, injustice, and lies. But the Father’s heart is not with the powerful, the arrogant, or the proud. God’s heart is with the little ones, with the humble, and with them He builds His kingdom of love and peace day by day.”

A speech that is not new from Leo XIV —he had already mentioned it on the flight— but which takes on special force in this context: a predominantly Muslim country, a very small Catholic community and a planet marked by conflicts.

In the afternoon, the day culminated at the Basilica of St. Augustine, where the Pope celebrated a Mass filled with joy and African color. It was the first time many journalists present truly experienced the “taste of Africa”: music, dances during the offertory, and a festive atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the somberness of the previous day, still dominated by international news.

Addressing the small Algerian Catholic community, Leo XIV encouraged them to be  “a factor of concord and unity” , to live the Gospel and Christian values ​​consistently in order to contribute to the good of all society, in dialogue and respect with the Muslim majority.

The Pope clearly felt “at home.” He had been here twice before as head of the Augustinians—one of them in 2013, for the reopening of this same basilica after its restoration. Today he returned as Successor of Peter, fulfilling a personal dream that had been brewing for months.

At the end of the day, the press team returned to Algiers. Tomorrow they face a five-hour flight to Cameroon, where a separatist movement has announced a truce to allow people to attend papal events. There, this journey, which in just two days has already made its mark, will continue: a pontiff who never misses an opportunity to speak of peace, who prefers the humble to the powerful, and who, with a firm step, follows in the footsteps of one of the greatest giants of the Christian faith.

Algeria had never before hosted a Pope. Leo XIV has made history… and it seems he is only just getting started.

Ready to follow the trail? Tomorrow, Cameroon awaits us.