Pope Leo visits Grand Mosque of Algiers calling it "the space that belongs to God"
Pope Leo in the Grand Mosque. Photo: Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV visited the Great Mosque of Algiers at the beginning of his apostolic journey to Africa, where he highlighted the site’s spiritual significance and paused in silent meditation, reports Vatican News.
At the mosque, the pontiff met with its the rector of the Mosque, Mohamed Mamoun al Qasim. He thanked him for the reception and called the mosque "a place that represents the space that belongs to God."
At the conclusion of the visit, the pope signed the Mosque's Book of Honor, leaving an entry with a wish: "May the mercy of the Most High keep the noble Algerian people and the entire human family in peace and freedom."
The Great Mosque of Algiers, built on the initiative of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, is the third largest mosque in the world and can accommodate up to 120 thousand believers. The mosque's minaret, 267 meters high, is the tallest in the world.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that during Ramadan, Patriarch Theodore organized an Islamic iftar at his residence.
Read also
TRC officers abduct priest of UOC's Zymne Monastery
The UOC cleric was reportedly taken by force to Lutsk.
UOC faithful publish appeal to Athonite monks visiting OCU
UOC faithful have called on the Athonite monks not to support the seizure of the Lavra or the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Zelensky has done more to destroy UOC than Poroshenko, journalist says
A Ukrainian journalist stated that Zelensky "declared war" on the UOC in 2022.
Dumenko to Athonite abbot: We're freeing Lavra from shackles of "Russian world"
Responding to the guest from Athos, the head of the OCU said that the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is being "freed" from the "false teaching of the Russian world" and is returning to "true service."
Abbot of New Esphigmenou at Lavra: OCU is a "deep spiritual movement"
Athonite Archimandrite Bartholomew, attending a celebration at the Lavra, assured attendees that the creation of the OCU was not a political act.
Serbian Church condemns verdict against Patriarch Porfirije in Slovenia
The Holy Synod of the Serbian Church called the Ljubljana court's ruling against the Primate unlawful.