Pope visits third largest mosque in the world

Pope Leo XIV visited the Great Mosque of Algiers, the third largest in the world (with a capacity of 120,000 worshippers), after those at the holy sites of Mecca and Medina.

Its minaret, standing 267 meters tall, is the tallest in the world. The great dome, which surmounts the main building housing the prayer hall, has a diameter of 50 meters and a height of 70 meters. The Holy Father was welcomed by the Rector of the Mosque, Mohamed Mamoun Al Qasimi.

Together they proceeded to the main hall for a brief private meeting, in the presence of Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, and Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, Archbishop of Algiers.