POPE LEO VISITS GREAT MOSQUE OF ALGIERS, REMOVES SHOES

April 14, 2026 • Dons Eze • 1 min read

19823116 free jpeg84b4f394400ff0a55997a5d5113a67a6 5

Pope Leo on Monday visited the Great Mosque of Algiers, often referred to as the “Mosque of Algeria”, as part of his 11-day tour of Africa.

According to EWTN Vatican, upon entering the mosque, which is home to the world’s highest minaret, the Pope removed his shoes as a gesture of respect.

At the mosque, Pope Leo reportedly highlighted the site’s spiritual significance and paused in silent meditation.

“Welcomed by the Rector of the Mosque, Mohamed Mamoun al Qasim, who offered words of fraternity, the Pope said.

The Grand Mosque of Algiers is reportedly the third-largest mosque in the world, capable of accommodating up to 120,000 worshippers.

Dons Eze

DONS EZE, PhD, Political Philosopher and Journalist of over four decades standing, worked in several newspaper houses across the country, and rose to the positions of Editor and General Manager. A UNESCO Fellow in Journalism, Dr. Dons Eze, a prolific writer and author of many books, attended several courses on Journalism and Communication in both Nigeria and overseas, including a Postgraduate Course on Journalism at Warsaw, Poland; Strategic Communication and Practical Communication Approach at RIPA International, London, the United Kingdom, among others.