Pope Leo paid homage to his spiritual roots on Tuesday (April 14), travelling to the ancient birthplace in Algeria of St. Augustine of Hippo, who inspired him to become a priest.

The first American pope has drawn the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump after sharply criticising the Iran war. In honouring Augustine, Leo was highlighting a personal connection to a major figure of the early Church who first proposed criteria to evaluate whether wars could be considered just.

Leo, who is on an ambitious, 10-day tour of four African countries, told Reuters on Monday (April 13) that he planned to keep criticizing the war, despite Trump's comments.

At a later meeting on Tuesday at a nearby nursing home run by Catholic sisters, the pope, a member of the Augustinian religious order, spoke out again.

"God's heart is torn apart by wars, violence, injustice and lies," Leo told the residents of the Little Sisters of the Poor home. "Our Father's heart is not with the wicked, the arrogant or the proud."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ANNABA, ALGERIA (APRIL 14, 2026) (ALGERIA TV - No use Algeria)

1. POPE LEO SITTING AND LISTENING TO SPEECH BY SISTER DURING HIS VISIT TO THE NURSING HOME OF THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR

2. SISTER SPEAKING ON PODIUM

3. VARIOUS OF POPE LEO LISTENING TO SPEECH BY SISTER

4. ATTENDEES CLAPPING

5. POPE LEO GREETING SISTER

6. POPE LEO LISTENING TO SPEECH

7. ATTENDEES SITTING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) POPE LEO SAYING:

“I think that the Lord, looking down from heaven upon a house like this, where people strive to live together in fraternity, would say, ‘there is hope,’ yes, because God’s heart is torn apart by wars, violence, injustice and lies.”

9. VARIOUS OF ATTENDEES SINGING AND WAVING SMALL FLAGS / POPE LEO LISTENING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) POPE LEO SAYING:

“But our Father’s heart is not with the wicked, the arrogant or the proud. God’s heart is with the little ones and the humble, and with them he builds up his kingdom of love and peace day by day, just as you are striving to do here in your daily service, friendship and life together.”

11. VARIOUS OF POPE LEO RECEIVING GIFT FROM SISTER

12. VARIOUS OF POPE LEO RECEIVING GIFT FROM ELDERLY MAN IN WHEELCHAIR

13. POPE LEO POSING FOR GROUP PHOTO WITH ATTENDEES

14. VARIOUS OF POPE LEO LEAVING HALL / PEOPLE CLAPPING