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Pope Leo XIV has said that he would like to visit Algeria in 2026 as part of a voyage to Africa, which could be his next overseas destination.
He made this known on Tuesday during a press conference aboard the papal plane on his return from a six-day visit to Turkey and Lebanon, marking the conclusion of his first international trip as pontiff.
“I hope to make a trip to Africa, which could be my next trip. Personally, I hope to go to Algeria to visit the places from the life of Saint Augustine,” he said.
According to the Vatican, a trip to Africa could also include visits to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.
Leo, leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, also said he would very much like to visit Latin America—Argentina, Uruguay, as well as Peru, where he spent more than 20 years working as a missionary.
The pontiff, who was elected pope in May, belongs to the Augustinian Order, founded in the 13th century and with nearly 3,000 members across 50 countries.
Such a visit is expected to allow the head of the Catholic Church to continue fostering dialogue and bridge-building between the Christian and Muslim worlds.
“The figure of Saint Augustine plays an important role as a bridge because in Algeria he is highly respected as a son of the nation,” the 70-year-old pontiff said.
