Pope Leo XIV visits Augustinian Sisters in Algiers, honoring martyrs and calling for peace, dignity, and respect for human differences.
Newsroom (13/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) In a moment filled with reverence and quiet reflection, Pope Leo XIV paid a private visit on Monday to the Centre for Welcome and Friendship run by the Missionary Augustinian Sisters in the Bab El Oued district of Algiers. The encounter, following his earlier visit to the Mosque of Algiers, was marked by prayer, remembrance, and gratitude for the Sisters’ steadfast witness and dedication to peace amid a history of suffering.
The Pope’s journey to the Algerian capital carried a profound spiritual dimension, rooted in honoring the memory of religious sisters who lost their lives during the brutal years of the Algerian Civil War. Among them were Sr. Esther Paniagua Alonso and Sr. Caridad Álvarez Martín, both assassinated on October 23, 1994, as they traveled to attend Mass. Their deaths form part of the story of the 19 martyrs of Algeria, who perished between 1994 and 1996 during the nation’s “Black Decade.”
At the heart of Pope Leo XIV’s visit was a meditation on the enduring witness of martyrdom. According to the Holy See Press Office, he reflected on the profound spiritual meaning embodied in the lives of these two sisters. Their martyrdom, he emphasized, reflects a defining aspect of Augustinian spirituality—bearing witness even to the point of death. “Your presence here means a great deal,” he told the community, recalling the significance of St. Augustine’s legacy in North Africa and its timeless message of peace through recognition of every person’s inherent dignity.
The Missionary Augustinian Sisters’ community in Bab El Oued, located about 16 kilometers from central Algiers, continues to live out that same spirit of service and reconciliation. Within their modest Centre for Welcome and Friendship, they provide a safe space where tradition meets the modern call for coexistence. Through educational initiatives, language courses, and workshops, the Sisters cultivate a daily encounter between people of diverse backgrounds—a quiet testament to the idea that peace is built in simple, human gestures.
Today, the centre remains active under the stewardship of two Sisters residing at Notre-Dame d’Afrique. Together with professional teachers of various nationalities, they run programs for children and adults alike: after-school tutoring, French and Spanish classes, and creative workshops for women in sewing, crochet, painting, and jewelry-making. These ordinary acts of education and skill building form the living continuation of a mission once carried by those who gave their lives for faith and fraternity.
As his visit concluded, Pope Leo XIV expressed deep thanks for the Sisters’ ongoing service, urging them to persevere in their mission. He noted with symbolism that May 8—the day the Church commemorates the 19 martyrs of Algeria—coincides with the anniversary of his own election as Pope. This connection, he remarked, represents a shared horizon of faith, witness, and enduring hope that transcends borders and time.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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