By Cardinal George J. Koovakad
The interreligious events of Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey held particular significance especially in Algeria and Cameroon, but also in his addresses to the authorities and the diplomatic corps in Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
He outlined a coherent vision of dialogue among religions as a privileged path to peace, reconciliation, and social stability. Taken together, the stages of the journey reveal a single unifying thread, in which symbolic gestures and words converge in the same theological and pastoral perspective.
In Algeria, the journey presented itself from the outset as directed toward the building of bridges and reconciliation. The Pope described it as “a valuable opportunity to continue with the same voice, with the same message, that we wish to convey: to promote peace, reconciliation, respect and consideration for all peoples,” invoking Saint Augustine as “a very important bridge in interreligious dialogue.”
In his address to civil authorities in Algiers, he placed universal fraternity at the center: “we are brothers and sisters, for we have the same Father in heaven,” indicating faith as a principle of convergence capable of sustaining justice, solidarity, and peace.
This orientation found concrete expression in the gestures he made, especially in the visit to the Great Mosque, where he reaffirmed “the dignity of every human being.” He added that: “We can learn to respect one another, live in harmony and build a world of peace.” The message he left in the book of honor—“May the mercy of the Most High keep in peace and freedom the noble Algerian people and the whole human family”—effectively sums up this universal vision.
At the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, dialogue was expressed in a concrete and everyday form, as shown by his statement that faith “does not isolate, but opens us up; it unites us, but does not create confusion; it brings us closer, without homogenizing.”
Finally, in Annaba, the Augustinian perspective rooted the journey in a more deeply spiritual dimension, linking the search for God to the building of peace and to charity: “faith in the one God… unites people according to perfect justice, which calls everyone to charity.”
In Cameroon, in a context marked by the Anglophone crisis which has not degenerated into religious conflict, the Pope clearly highlighted the positive role of religions when they are not distorted by the “poison of fundamentalism.”
In his address to civil authorities, he called for everyone to “reject the logic of violence and war” in order to embrace “a peace that is unarmed… and disarming,” emphasizing the shared responsibility of States and religious leaders in preventing conflicts.
The most significant moment was the encounter in Bamenda, where Christian, Muslim, and traditional leaders offered a concrete witness of lived fraternity.
As the Imam stated, “We thank God that this crisis did not degenerate into a war of religion…,” while the Pope pointed to the Peace Movement as “a model for the whole world,” warning against “those who manipulate religion… to their own gain.” This event showed how interreligious dialogue can arise from a shared history of suffering and be transformed into a path of reconciliation.
In meetings with Muslim representatives and with the Bishops, Pope Leo insisted on the common responsibility to build peace and the need for a realistic dialogue, capable of recognizing the internal diversity of religious communities and promoting an authentic inculturation.
In Angola, addressing the diplomatic corps, the Pope broadened the perspective to the whole African continent, underscoring the challenges linked to conflicts and divisions.
“Africa urgently needs to overcome situations and dynamics of conflict and enmity… Only in encounter in encounter does life flourish. Dialogue is the first step,” he said.
In this context, he also recalled the teaching of Pope Francis, highlighting the continuity of the magisterium on dialogue and peace.
In Equatorial Guinea, he insisted on shared values, such as the formation of consciences and the centrality of the common good.
“In a world wounded by arrogance, people hunger and thirst for justice,” he said, making his own the appeal of Pope Francis: “Today we also have to say ‘thou shalt not’ to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills.”
In the overall assessment, Pope Leo XIV explicitly recalled the legacy of Pope Francis, remembering his commitment to “universal fraternity” and to “an authentic respect for all men and all women.”
The entire journey thus appears marked by several unifying themes.
These include fraternity as the foundation of coexistence, the condemnation of every instrumentalization of religion, and the decisive role of religious leaders in mediating conflicts.
In this perspective, the experiences lived in the different countries are not isolated events, but rather take shape as a coherent and concrete proposal for promoting, in the contemporary world, an interreligious dialogue capable of sustaining peace, justice, and stable coexistence among peoples.
