Good morning. From Fiumicino Airport, Pope Leo XIV has begun his third international trip, which will take him across the African continent for 11 days and nearly 18,000 kilometers. The route begins in  Algeria  —the first papal visit to this country—continues through Cameroon and Angola, and ends in Equatorial Guinea. It will encompass four countries, twelve cities, and up to 18 domestic flights: a demanding itinerary, but one full of significance.

Why Algeria first? Because the Pope, a spiritual son of  Saint Augustine , had longed since his election to set foot on the land of the great Doctor of the Church. Tomorrow he will visit the very place where the saint died. Moreover, Africa is today the continent of hope for the Catholic Church: vocations are growing and faith is being lived with fervor.

The Pope will speak in English, French, Portuguese, and, for the first time, in Spanish, in Equatorial Guinea. His agenda will include urgent issues: peace amidst wars, reconciliation, migration, care for our common home, and the fight against corruption and authoritarianism. Two of the presidents he will receive have been in power for decades.

The shadow of Trump and the Pope’s response

The flight to Algeria has already been moved. Shortly after takeoff, Pope Leo XIV made a brief statement that sounded like a direct response to recent criticism from President  Donald Trump . “I will continue to raise my voice for peace, reconciliation, and dialogue,” he said.

While greeting reporters, several asked him about the US president’s remarks. The Pope was clear and calm:

“I’m not afraid of President Trump. I’m not a politician, I don’t want to debate him. I just follow the Gospel.”

He lamented that many distort the Gospel message and recalled the suffering of thousands of innocent people due to conflicts. “What should the Church do? Promote peace, oppose violations of international law, call on leaders not to see themselves as gods who decide the fate of nations, and to sit down and negotiate a just and lasting peace… through dialogue, not weapons or arrogance.”

He insisted: anyone who interprets his words as a political attack simply doesn’t understand the Gospel. He is only doing what the Gospel asks of him: defending brotherhood among nations.

A polarized day, but with profound messages

The first day in Algeria inevitably revolved around this exchange of statements. Even so, the Pope fulfilled an agenda laden with symbolism:

• He visited the monument to the martyrs of the war of independence and the civil war, remembering the pain of a people who suffered colonialism and fratricidal violence.
• In his speech to the authorities, he criticized “neocolonial tendencies” and violations of international law, advocating for justice and solidarity.
• He paid a silent visit to the  Great Mosque of Algiers , one of the largest in the world. Afterward, he spoke extemporaneously: Christianity and Islam can and should walk together for the good of humanity. “The name of God can never be used to justify war or conflict.”

The pontiff reiterated that the major religions have a responsibility to promote peace and reconciliation.

What’s coming

Although the media clash with Trump dominated the headlines on the first day, the Pope wants to focus on the major challenges facing Africa: corruption, migration, environmental protection, and interreligious dialogue. Tomorrow, the trip will delve into its spiritual and pastoral dimension with a visit to the Basilica of Saint Augustine.

From Algeria, and for the next eleven days, we will follow this historic journey day by day. A pontiff who, faced with global tensions, repeatedly reiterates the same commitment:  to speak out loud and clear because the Gospel demands it .

May this journey sow hope in a continent that so desperately needs it… and in a world that seems to have forgotten it.

Ready to accompany Pope Leo XIV through Africa?