Pope Leo XIV. in Africa: Augustin of Hippo Regius

During his journey through Africa, Pope Leo XIV is repeatedly confronted with the Church Father Augustine of Hippo Regius. Augustine was bishop of the coastal and trading city of Hippo Regius, which is now in Algeria and is an archaeological site of ruins.

Pope Leo was an Augustinian friar. The Augustinians follow the Rule of St Augustine. Hence, on his journey, Pope Leo took a particular interest in this Church Father, who died in 430 and is counted among the most significant theologians and pastors in the history of the Church.

Professors Anja Bettenworth (Cologne) and Claudia Gronemann (Mannheim) organised an international conference in 2019 at the headquarters of the Görres Institute in Rome on the reception of Augustine in the Maghreb today, which is attracting renewed interest in light of the Pope’s visit. For the fascinating figure of Augustine has not been forgotten in either Christian or Muslim North Africa; indeed, as an ‘African’, he is enjoying growing interest in academia and literature.

The papers from the 2019 conference were published in the 2019 and 2020 volumes of the Römische Quartalschrift and are available online there (subject to a fee).

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