When Leo goes to St. Augustine’s land he will meet Muslim majority

From St. Augustine and the Algerian martyrs to colonization and the current landscape of the Catholic Church, the French-Algerian Dominican discusses the main themes of this trip — the first by a pope to this country — in an interview with IMedia.

IMedia: What can we primarily expect from this papal trip?

Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco: First, there's an easily identifiable goal: visiting a small, unique Church. To me, it's principally about conveying the meaning of this small Church in a Muslim country. The Pope will certainly meet a Church, but he'll also meet all the people of this Church. And that population is overwhelmingly Muslim, along with some Christians.

So your Church encompasses the entire Algerian people?

Cardinal Vesco: Yes, it includes everyone. A large portion of the population sees me as "their" cardinal. I don’t consider myself the archbishop of only baptized Catholics. The Church sent me to serve everyone.

In 1962, Cardinal Léon-Étienne Duval, the former Archbishop of Algiers, chose to serve these same people. He decided to stay in the country after independence. He felt it was vital for Christ to be present in His Church in Algeria within this newly born independent nation.

Will the Pope have an official meeting with the Algerian people?

Cardinal Vesco: A meeting is scheduled on the plaza of the Monument to the Martyrs. The Pope is a head of state unlike any other. He has nothing to sell, no contracts to sign, and no alliances to forge. Instead, he brings a spiritual dimension: He comes for everyone.

This meeting with the people is essential. A massive number of Algerians want to see the Pope. Many assume this trip only interests Christians, but that's false.

Obviously, we cannot expect a Muslim nation to prepare for a Pope's arrival the same way a Christian nation would. Regardless, we already achieved our goals when the Pope agreed to come. Whatever happens will be beautiful. The Algerian people embody a spirit of welcome, hospitality, and openness to others.

This kindness lies at the very heart of Algeria. They are honored by this visit and wanted it from the very beginning.

The Pope is also coming because of St. Augustine...

Cardinal Vesco: St. Augustine will naturally be at the center of the trip. In fact, the Ministry of Culture will organize a conference on him after the Pope's visit. This is a truly important aspect because it helps restore the history of this people, which has been routinely denied.

When Islam arrived, everything pre-Islamic faded into the background. The same thing happened later with colonization. The colonial lie was to claim "a land without a people." But a people preceded all of that, with its own history, traditions, genealogies, rituals, and collective memory.

My message is that this people is great and has a rich history. In a way, highlighting Augustine gives them back their depth.

Do you think the Pope will address the sensitive subject of colonization during this trip?

Cardinal Vesco: I have a dream: that there will indeed be a statement regarding colonial wounds. I don’t know if that will happen. During this tour, the Pope is visiting African countries that were colonized and still bear those scars. And he's coming from Peru, where he surely witnessed the marks of colonization.

I would love for a Pope to say: "I have heard your suffering. I know what you’ve been through. Now, we must go further. We must move forward." Colonization belongs to an old world that's now fracturing. Before we leave that world order behind, let's speak with truth. Let's speak with justice.

Will there also be a commemoration for the 19 martyrs of Algeria, who were beatified in 2018?

Cardinal Vesco: According to the official schedule, Leo XIV will visit the Augustinian Missionary Sisters in Algiers. The two Spanish religious, Sister Esther Paniagua Alonso and Sister Caridad Alvarez Martín, lived in this house. They left this home before attackers murdered them in Bab El Oued [a neighborhood in Algiers, Ed.].

We’ll see a second sign [of the martyr’s presence] in the church where the Pope will meet the Christian community. The names of all the beatified martyrs are engraved in a side chapel there.

What’s the current landscape of the Catholic community in Algeria?

Cardinal Vesco: If we look at church attendance, we're talking about a few thousand people. It's hard to say how many are baptized. The Church in Algeria includes at least 40 nationalities and many different denominations.

Catholics are a minority: our communities and celebrations are completely ecumenical. For example, a Mass with 100 students might include only 15 or 20 Catholics. The rest belong to various other African churches.

In Algiers, we also have expatriates, diplomats, and entrepreneurs. Some Catholics were born in Algeria and are converts.

How do authorities view conversions in a country where Islam is the state religion?

Cardinal Vesco: The law guarantees freedom of worship, and theoretically, a person has the right to be a Christian. However, the authorities prosecute proselytism. In reality, it's not a question of law but of mindset: converting from Islam isn't accepted, even within the family circle.

We’re working to ensure that society fully accepts the Catholic Church and its members as active participants who respect local values and the dominant religion. This papal visit can help show that religious diversity truly belongs in Algeria.