Pope Leo XIV received on March 18 in a private audience the abbot of the historic abbey of Our Lady of La Trappe (France), Thomas Georgeon, and far from the announcement about the possible closure of the abbey, the meeting was centered on the spiritual legacy and the dissemination of the Algerian martyrs.
A Meeting Centered on the Testimony of Martyrdom
According to ACI Prensa, the meeting at the Vatican revolved around the 19 Algerian martyrs, killed out of hatred for the faith at the end of the 20th century and beatified in 2018 in Oran. Among them stand out seven French Cistercian monks from Tibhirine, kidnapped and beheaded by an Islamist group.
Abbot Georgeon, who serves as the postulator of the cause, conveyed to the Pontiff the most recent advances in the study and dissemination of their testimony, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of their martyrdom.
Academic Projects and International Dissemination
During the audience, various initiatives aimed at preserving and disseminating the legacy of these martyrs were discussed. Among them, the publication of two volumes collecting the writings of the Tibhirine monks, prepared by an international scientific committee.
Likewise, the abbot reported on the creation of a chair dedicated to the 19 martyrs at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland), as well as the impact of the traveling exhibition “Chiamati due volte” (“Called Twice”), which has toured various cities around the world.
These initiatives reflect, according to Georgeon, the growing interest in a testimony that proposes a message of peace in a global context marked by violence.
The Relevance of a Message of Faith and Reconciliation
The meeting also highlighted the ongoing relevance of the testimony of the Tibhirine martyrs, whose example of fidelity, coexistence, and dedication amid persecution continues to be a reference for the Church.
The abbot emphasized that their legacy continues to inspire academic and pastoral activities in various countries, including international conferences such as the one planned in Oxford next July.
On the Horizon, the Pope’s Trip to Algeria
The audience also allowed for discussion of Leo XIV’s upcoming apostolic trip to Algeria, scheduled for April, a destination closely linked to the memory of the martyrs.