Press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Vatican - 16/05/2025

  Algeria’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Rachid Bladehane, took part on Friday in the ceremony gathering Vatican- accredited ambassadors ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass.

As part of his participation in the inaugural Mass of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV which will take place this Sunday, 18 May 2025, Rachid Bladehane, in his capacity as Ambassador of Algeria to the Holy See, took part on Friday in the ceremony gathering Ambassadors accredited to the Vatican.

Ambassador Bladehane seized the opportunity of this reception to reiterate to Pope Leo XIV the warm congratulations of His Excellency, the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, following his election as pope of the Catholic Church and Head of State of the Vatican.

On this occasion, he also affirmed that President Tebboune established the threefold principles of peace, justice and truth as the cornerstone of his policy at the national, regional and international levels.

During this exchange, Pope Leo XIV asked the ambassador to convey to President Tebboune his heartfelt thanks for the congratulatory message and his keen desire to visit Algeria, the birthplace of Saint Augustine, whom the Pope proudly affirmed, in his first papal speech, that he considers himself one of his sons.