Vesco: in Algeria the Church is “not there to convert”

Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco OP, Archbishop of Algiers, in a CathoBel interview (Christophe Herinckx, 23 October 2026) described the Catholic Church in Algeria as part of the people, not as a proselytising force.

“We are the Church of this people. Not a proselytising Church, not a Church that is there to convert, but a Church that aspires to be one of the components of this people.” (French original: «Nous sommes l’Église de ce peuple. Pas une Église prosélytisante, pas une Église là pour convertir, mais une Église qui aspire à être l’un des éléments de ce peuple.»)

Among monotheistic religions, he said, proselytism is “poison” because it implies considering the other’s religion false. He posed the choice between seeing oneself as a “besieged fortress” and choosing fraternity, “the only worthwhile option”.

In the same interview he said Francis’s strength was “imprévisibilité” and Leo’s is “prévisibilité”, and reflected on Leo XIV’s visit to Algeria (13–15 April 2026), stressing the value of sowing dialogue and hope rather than measuring “results” for the Church.

The debate on evangelisation versus proselytism remains longstanding: other voices (including Card. Sarah and Bishop Barron, cited in later roundups) stress the missionary mandate and conversion as part of proclamation. This piece reports what Vesco said, without judgment.

Sources: CathoBel, Advaticanum (28 October 2026).

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