As it Continues Closing Churches, Algeria Awaits its First Papal Visit

A leading figure of ancient Christianity, Saint Augustine, came from a land now known as Algeria. The region remained heavily Christian until the onset of jihadist invasions of the 7th century. Their influence was lasting. Today, more than 98% of Algeria’s 48 million people are Muslim. During the early years of the 21st century, evangelical Christianity made significant strides in Algeria, particularly among the ethnic Kabylians, native to the mountainous region of Kabylia, also known as “Kabylie,” in northern Algeria.…