As Algeria prepares to welcome Pope Leo XIV on a historic visit in April 2026, the country’s small Christian community continues to face growing restrictions and the closure of many churches, observers say. The pope’s visit will take place after the end of Ramadan in mid April and will include stops in Algiers and Annaba. It will be the first time a reigning pope has visited the North African nation.
Once a center of early Christianity and the homeland of Saint Augustine of Hippo, Algeria today is overwhelmingly Muslim, with more than 98 % of its roughly 48 million population adhering to Islam. In the early 21st century, evangelical Christian communities made modest gains, especially among the ethnic Kabyles, but rising pressure has reversed much of that progress. In the past decade, more than 40 Protestant churches have been closed, leaving only one reported church still operating openly in the country.
Christians in Algeria are often converts from Islam, and their faith is viewed by some authorities as incompatible with national identity. Legal restrictions on non-Muslim worship have tightened since 2017, with religious groups struggling to register, gather, or share their faith publicly. Christian social media communities have also been suppressed by government action.
Despite these constraints, many Algerian believers continue to practice their faith privately, and Church leaders see the upcoming papal visit as a potential turning point. Local Catholics and advocates express hope that Pope Leo’s presence will bring comfort to the beleaguered community, strengthen inter-religious dialogue, and encourage respect for religious freedom in one of Africa’s largest countries.