Four countries and 10 days -- on what was to be the first journey of the pontificate -- Pope Leo spent his morning in the homeland of his spiritual father, St. Augustine, the first stop of his long trip.
After a welcome ceremony at the airport, the Holy Father visited a monument commemorating the Algerian War (1954-1962).
This is his third time in Algeria, after having made two trips here as an Augustinian priest.
Speaking in English with simultaneous translation into Arabic, the Pope said:
Algeria is a great country, with a long history rich in traditions, dating back to the time of Saint Augustine and well before. It is also a painful history, marked by periods of violence. Yet, precisely thanks to the nobility of spirit that characterizes you – which I sense is alive even here and now — you have been able to overcome these trials with courage and integrity.
Our presence here at this monument pays tribute to this history of Algeria and to the very spirit of a people who fought for the independence, dignity and sovereignty of this nation.
In this place, let us remember that God desires peace for every nation: a peace that is not merely an absence of conflict, but one that is an expression of justice and dignity. This peace, which allows us to face the future with a reconciled spirit, is possible only through forgiveness. The true struggle for liberation will be definitively won only when peace in our hearts has finally been achieved. I know how difficult it is to forgive. However, as conflicts continue to multiply throughout the world, we cannot add resentment upon resentment, generation after generation.
The future belongs to men and women of peace. In the end, justice will always triumph over injustice, just as violence, despite all appearances, will never have the last word.
Follow the trip here
And see this article for an overview:
