Departure from Algeria and Farewell Ceremony

At 9.15 this morning, after celebrating Holy Mass in private and taking leave of the Apostolic Nunciature, the Holy Father briefly visited the Notre Dame d’Afrique Nursery, managed by the Missionary Sisters of Charity. The children staged a short performance for the Pope, who greeted them and the religious sisters at the end of the visit. The Holy Father then transferred by care to Houari Boumédiène International Airport in Algiers for the farewell ceremony from Algeria.

Upon arrival, the Pope was received by the President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, His Excellency Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, at the entrance of the Salon d’Honneur. They proceeded to the VIP Room together for a private meeting, which was followed by the farewell ceremony.

After the national anthems, the Honour to the Flags, the passing of the Guard of Honour and the greeting of the respective delegations, Pope Leo XIV boarded an ITA Airways Airbus A330-900neo, which departed at 10.16 bound for Cameroon.

The aircraft carrying the Holy Father is expected to arrive at Yaoundé-Nsimalen at 15.20 local time.

Telegram to the President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria

Immediately after departure, Pope Leo XIV sent the following telegram to the President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria:

Telegram

His Excellency Abdelmadjid Tebboune
President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
Algiers

As I depart from the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, I express my deep gratitude to Your Excellency and to all the beloved Algerian people for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to me during my visit. With the assurance of my prayers, I invoke upon the Nation the divine blessings of peace and joy.

Leo PP. XIV