Saint Joseph Catholic Church

Pope Leo XIV visited the Great Mosque of Algiers this afternoon (video) and, in impromptu remarks, spoke about St. Augustine’s search for truth.

Pope Leo XIV spoke to Algeria’s civil authorities during his second address in the North African nation today and called upon them “to promote a vibrant, dynamic and free civil society, in which young people in particular are recognized as capable of helping to broaden the horizon of hope for all” (video).

“The graphic exploitation of sacred imagery is deeply offensive and undermines the reverence owed to what believers hold most dear,” said Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark. “The image is blasphemous, and we condemn it,” CatholicVote.org, whose founding president is now the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, said in a brief social media post.

“I did post it and I thought it was me as a doctor,” President Trump said to reporters today. “It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better, and I do make people better. I make people a lot better.”

In a lengthy social media post last night, President Donald Trump offered strong criticism of Pope Leo XIV.

Addressing journalists on the flight from Rome to Algiers, Pope Leo XIV said this morning that “I am indeed very happy to visit once again the land of Saint Augustine.”

Responding to a reporter’s question on the papal flight from Rome to Algiers, Pope Leo XIV said this morning that he has “no fear of the Trump administration.”

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria this morning and emphasized in his first address that “the future belongs to men and women of peace.”

Pope Leo departed from Rome this morning for Algeria, the first of four nations he will visit during a ten-day apostolic journey.