Pope Leo XIV visits ancient Hippo in Annaba, honoring St. Augustine’s legacy with prayer, song, and an olive tree for peace.
Newsroom (14/04/2026 Gaudium Press ) Under brooding skies over the Algerian coast, Pope Leo XIV stood among the silent stones of Hippo Regius — the ancient Roman city known today as Annaba — where his spiritual forebear, St. Augustine, once preached and prayed. On Tuesday, April 14, the second day of his Apostolic Journey to Algeria, the Pope returned to this sacred ground, retracing the steps of one of Christianity’s most influential theologians.
Ancient Hippo was among the Roman Empire’s vital coastal centers, distinguished by its paved forum, magnificent theatre, bustling market, and vast baths. Amid these vestiges of imperial grandeur lie remnants of early Christian life: the Basilica Pacis, where Augustine served as Bishop from 396 to his death in 430, and a baptistery that bears witness to one of history’s most transformative eras.
Welcomed by local representatives at the archaeological site, the Pope paused in quiet reflection before a wreath of flowers laid in Augustine’s honor. In the distance stood the hilltop Basilica of St. Augustine, where he is scheduled to preside over Mass later in the day. The Pope then planted an olive tree — a living symbol of peace and fraternity — as a choir from Annaba’s Music Institute performed hymns inspired by Augustine’s writings on unity and hope.
This visit marks a historic moment: Pope Leo XIV is the first pontiff ever to set foot in Algeria. Yet for him, the journey felt deeply familiar. Speaking to the nation’s authorities on Monday, he recalled his prior pilgrimages to Annaba in 2004 and 2013, describing himself as a “spiritual son of Saint Augustine.”
“I am grateful for the mysterious plan of divine providence that has arranged for me to return here again as Successor of Peter,” he said, reflecting on the continuity between his own mission and Augustine’s enduring legacy. On the flight from Rome, Pope Leo praised Augustine as “a very important bridge in interreligious dialogue” and “deeply loved in his homeland.”
“Having the opportunity to visit the places associated with the life of St. Augustine, where he was Bishop in the city of Hippo, now known as Annaba, is truly a blessing for me personally,” the Pope remarked. “I believe it is also a blessing for the Church and for the world, because we must always seek bridges to build peace and reconciliation.”
Following his morning at Hippo, Pope Leo’s itinerary continues with a visit to a care home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor and a private meeting with members of the Augustinian Order. He will later preside over Mass at the Basilica of St. Augustine before returning to Algiers in the evening.
On Wednesday, April 15, the Pope embarks on the next phase of his Apostolic Journey — flying to Cameroon, then continuing to Angola and Equatorial Guinea — carrying forward the message of peace, dialogue, and unity inspired by the saint whose steps he traced amid the ruins of Hippo Regius.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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