Pope Leo’s words ‘I am a son of Augustine’ thrilled Algeria, home of the saint’s diocese

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 23, 2025 / 12:00 pm

The Diocese of Constantine-Hippo, located in Algeria and a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Algiers, is proud to have had as its bishop — appointed in 395 — one of the most illustrious doctors of the Church: St. Augustine of Hippo.

Endowed with a fervent intellect, he transformed this vibrant port city, nestled on the coast of present-day Algeria, into a nexus of theological debates that forever shaped the Catholic Church. In this diocese, St. Augustine wrote some of his major works, such as “Confessions” and “The City of God.”

The city was besieged by the Vandals in 430, during which the saint died. The current seat of the diocese is in the coastal city of Annaba, near ancient Hippo. It is one of the four ecclesiastical districts of Algeria and was officially established on July 25, 1866.

After more than a year of vacancy — since the departure of the previous bishop, Nicolas Lhernould, who was appointed archbishop of Tunis in April 2024 — on July 11 Pope Leo XIV appointed Father Michel Guillaud to head the Algerian diocese.

For Guillaud, St. Augustine is a “living” figure who continues to speak to the entire country today. “All of Algeria was thrilled when Pope Leo XIV said, ‘I am the son of Augustine.’ Many even wondered, ‘Could he be Algerian?’ Some even told me, ‘I knew Mohamed Prévost, his grandfather,’” the bishop jokingly told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.

Bishop-elect Guillaud — who has served as a pastor in several Algerian cities: Batna (2006–2014); Constantine (2014–2016); and Skikda (2016–present) as well as vicar general of the Diocese of Constantine-Hippo (2020–2024) — does not consider himself an expert on St. Augustine but recognizes that the saint offers a clear model of life and mission.

“He was a tireless truth-seeker. Although he received a Christian education from his mother, that was not enough for him. He sought other answers through philosophy but returned to the faith with solid convictions. Today, where so much fake news and manipulation circulate, Augustine’s passion for the truth is very important,” he noted.

As could not be otherwise, the teachings of St. Augustine continue to resonate in the daily life of this small and humble Church, yet one filled with spiritual vigor and desire for communion. In times of division, the shepherd of Hippo speaks again of unity.

Making mercy prevail over rigorism

“When he became bishop in 395,” the French priest related, “the Church was divided by the Donatist schism. The Donatists [who believed the validity of sacraments depended on the moral purity of the clergy administering them] outnumbered the Catholics. But with theology, spirituality, and mercy, he managed to reunite the Church. This effort for unity and to make mercy prevail over rigorism seems fundamental to me in a society marked by mistrust and polarization.”

Guillaud, who is the secretary-general of the Bishops’ Conference of the North African Region (CERNA, by its French acronym), emphasized the way in which, as early as the fifth century, St. Augustine embodied fraternity: “He did not live alone. He wanted to live with his brother priests. This fostered a simple, pure, and active life. Many congregations today follow his rule. I love this call to shared life among those who have a common mission.”

A future trip by Leo XIV to Algeria?

After his appointment, Guillaud sent a letter to Pope Leo XIV thanking him for his “trust” in him and extended an invitation to “make a pilgrimage to Algeria in the footsteps of Augustine.”

“I know that the Algerian authorities have also let you know that you would be well received,” he added, although he clarified that, for the moment, there is no official confirmation. The pontiff will receive Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the Vatican on July 24, and Tebboune will likely extend an official invitation.

A small but vibrant Church

The Catholic community of the Diocese of Constantine-Hippo in Algeria is a small but vibrant presence. “It is a fraternal presence that is inserted into the Algerian Muslim world. Creating ties, we recognize ourselves as children of God, called to bear witness to his name together, to live in peace and mutual respect. This is what we experience on a regular basis,” the bishop-elect emphasized.

But it wasn’t always this way. During the French colonial period (1830–1962), the Catholic Church grew considerably. However, after Algeria’s war of independence from France, which ended in 1962, most French Catholics left, fearing violence.

According to its website, in 2019 the diocese had approximately 620 Catholics, mostly foreign university students from sub-Saharan Africa. “They represent perhaps 80% of our faithful. So we have a young Church, made up primarily of students,” Guillaud explained.

The Diocese of Constantine-Hippo represents the entire northeast of the country and encompasses seven cities: Annaba, Skikda, Bejaïa, Constantine, Sétif, Batna, and Tébessa. As Guillaud explained, Catholics seek above all to live the Gospel through service, friendship, and dialogue.

Fraternal coexistence with Muslims, albeit with adjustments

However, coexistence with Muslims has required some adaptation. “For example, we don’t celebrate Sunday Mass on Sunday, because it’s a workday. We celebrate it on Friday or Saturday, when it’s a day of rest, because otherwise, no one would come,” he explained.

The bishop-elect emphasized that dialogue with Islam is not a sporadic initiative but a daily reality.

“Eight or nine out of 10 people who enter our communities are Muslims. They come to bring us some of the couscous they’ve prepared, to ask us how we are doing, to ask for our help, to share something personal. The vast majority of those we meet every day are Muslims,” he noted.

There is a spiritual openness that profoundly influences the mission.

“Algerians have a very strong spiritual and religious sensibility. It’s more pleasant to live here than in a country where religion is marginalized. For us, interreligious dialogue is, above all, a daily experience,” he emphasized.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.