Background on Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV, born as Cardinal Robert Prevost from the United States, ascended to the papacy on May 8th, succeeding the late Pope Francisco at the helm of the Catholic Church, which boasts 1.4 billion members.
Prior to his papal appointment, Prevost was not shy in criticizing former U.S. President Donald Trump, expressing numerous disapproving messages about Trump and Vice President JD Vance over the years.
Pope Leo XIV’s Critique of Nationalism
During a Pentecost Sunday mass attended by tens of thousands in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV denounced the rise of political nationalism without naming any specific country or leader.
“It’s unfortunate to witness the emergence of prejudices, ‘security zones’ that divide us from our neighbors, and an exclusionary mindset now surfacing in political nationalism,” the pontiff stated.
He urged God to “open borders, tear down walls, and dispel hatred.”
Pope Leo XIV’s Predecessors and Their Stances
Pope Francisco, who served for 12 years, was also a vocal critic of Trump. In January, he described Trump’s plan to deport millions of migrants in the U.S. during his second term as a “tragedy.”
Earlier, Pope Francisco declared that Trump “was not a Christian” due to his stance on immigration.
“Someone who only thinks about building walls, wherever they may be, and not about constructing bridges, is not a Christian,” Francisco remarked in 2016 when asked about Trump.
Context of Pentecost Sunday Mass
Pope Leo XIV conducted the mass for Pentecost Sunday, one of the most significant celebrations in the Catholic Church calendar.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Pope Leo XIV? Pope Leo XIV, originally Cardinal Robert Prevost from the United States, succeeded Pope Francisco as the head of the Catholic Church with 1.4 billion members.
- What is Pope Leo XIV’s stance on nationalism? Pope Leo XIV condemned the rise of political nationalism in his Pentecost Sunday sermon, calling it unfortunate and urging God to “open borders, tear down walls, and dispel hatred.”
- How did Pope Francisco view Trump? Pope Francisco, Leo XIV’s predecessor, was a strong critic of Trump. He described Trump’s migrant deportation plan as a “tragedy” and declared that Trump “was not a Christian” based on his immigration views.
