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Saint Augustin, a Tunisian memory to be shown to the world

  • Writer: Eric ALAUZEN
    Eric ALAUZEN
  • May 12
  • 4 min read

At a time when Pope Leo XIV is affirming his attachment to the thought of Saint Augustin, - I am an Augustinian’, were his first words - the whole of North Africa is being invited to rediscover the legacy of this major thinker, who was born on its soil. Trained in Carthage, with origins mixed with Berber and Punic cultures, Augustin embodies a common heritage, still capable today of bringing peoples together and fostering dialogue between traditions. Tunisia is already making the most of this wealth in its archaeological tourism, with the Christian basilicas of Carthage, the baptisteries and the Christian catacombs.


It should be noted that the Order of Saint Augustin, which Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Leo XIV, joined at the age of 22, was officially founded in 1256 by Pope Alexander IV, by uniting several small groups of hermits. It is a mendicant order, active in preaching, teaching and missions. Present on five continents, they carry out a wide range of missions, from teaching in schools and universities to parish life, helping the poor, spiritual guidance and theological research. The pontiff himself completed a doctorate in canon law at the Angelicum (Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas) in 1987, with a thesis on the role of the local prior of the Order of St Augustin.

Saint Augustin a Tunisian memory to be shown to the world
Saint Augustin

The North African sources of Saint Augustin, universal thinker


The recent elevation of Pope Leo XIV and his declared attachment to the Augustinian tradition (centred on the inner quest for truth, the primacy of divine grace, and the dialogue between faith and reason, also valuing community living together, founded on love and the search for peace) resonate beyond the borders of Rome. This reference inevitably takes us back to North Africa, the birthplace of one of Christianity's greatest thinkers: Saint Augustin.


Born in 354 in Thagaste  (now Souk Ahras in Algeria), in a Roman Empire where Christianity was the only authorised faith, to a family of mixed origins - both Punic and Berber - Augustin embodied the spiritual and cultural wealth that Africa offered the world. He died in 430 in Hippone (now Annaba) as the Vandals invaded the city. Twenty years earlier, in 410, Rome had been sacked by Alaric I, king of the Visigoths, a pivotal date between the end of antiquity and the beginning of the early Middle Ages.


His journey was also shaped by his family: his mother, Monique (332-387), a fervent, loving and persevering Christian, played a decisive role in his conversion. His father, Patricius, a pagan by birth, did not convert until later in life, illustrating the tension and dialogue between traditions in which Augustin grew up.

Saint Augustin a Tunisian memory to be shown to the world
The remains of the Basilica of Saint Cyprian, in Carthage (Tunisia), built in the 4th century

From the schools of Carthage to the Journées Augustiniennes: a heritage that brings people together


The city of Carthage, now in Tunisia, was the place where young Augustin received his intellectual training, but also where he had a lot of fun. He studied rhetoric and philosophy there, attending its renowned schools. Carthage (the third largest city in the Roman Empire, after Rome and Constantinople) was not only a major trading centre at the time: it was also a major centre of theological reflection and a melting pot of African, Latin and Christian cultures. It was here that Augustin honed his critical mind, before continuing his journey in Italy, where his mother died.


This memory is still alive today. The Journées Augustiniennes de Carthage, organised each year, bear witness to this desire to rediscover and promote the legacy of Saint Augustin, a universal figure with deep roots in Africa. These meetings attract researchers, specialists in Christian archaeology, believers and lovers of history, and show that Tunisia has a spiritual heritage capable of bringing people together across all divides.


Saint Augustin, a Tunisian memory to be shown to the world

Saint Augustin a Tunisian memory to be shown to the world
The Journées Augustiniennes de Carthage, 2024 edition

Augustine's works, such as Confessions and The City of God, continue to nourish contemporary thought with their profound insights into the human condition, the relationship between faith and reason, and the inner quest. These texts, born of a man shaped by the landscapes and tensions of ancient North Africa, are a reminder of the extent to which this region has contributed to the world's intellectual heritage.

Saint Augustin a Tunisian memory to be shown to the world
The Confessions of Saint Augustin, 1690 edition

Saint Augustin and Carthage: a living past to inspire the future


In this context, Pope Leo XIV's reminder of Augustin's legacy provides a valuable opportunity to revive the memory of a time when North Africa was a living hotbed of Christianity. A land where Berber traditions, Punic influences and the nascent Christian faith met in dialogue with other beliefs. Today, this heritage could inspire a new way of looking at things, based on respect, mutual understanding and ‘living well together’, values dear to Augustin himself.


Tunisia, rich in this memory, has the opportunity to promote its historic role in weaving relations between Mediterranean cultures. Its Christian remains - basilicas, mosaics, archaeological sites - bear witness to this ancient presence and can serve as a springboard for collective rediscovery.


The figure of Augustin, both African and universal, remains a bridge between eras, peoples and beliefs. Carthage, once a beacon city, can once again become a symbol of encounter and dialogue between civilisations.


‘Love is the source of peace, and peace is the fruit of unity’ Saint Augustin
Saint Augustin a Tunisian memory to be shown to the world
EA Pro Nantes International Media Relations

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