At the end of his first foreign trip as Pope, which focused on dialogue, Pope Leo XIV said the examples of friendship and respect he had witnessed could serve as a helpful model for others. Source: CNS.
For example, the stories of Christians and Muslims helping each other in Lebanon when their villages were destroyed offer the lesson that “we should perhaps be a little less fearful and look for ways of promoting authentic dialogue and respect,” the Pope told reporters during his flight to Rome from Lebanon on Tuesday.
Often, fear of Muslims in the West is “generated by people who are against immigration and are trying to keep out people who may be from another country, another religion, another race,” he said. “In that sense, I would say that we all need to work together.”
Pope Leo left Rome for Türkiye on November 27 and flew to Lebanon on November 30. On the way home, he spent more than 25 minutes responding to reporters’ questions.
After his repeated appeals throughout the trip for an end to violence in the Middle East, Pope Leo was asked if he would “use his connections” with US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to promote peace in the region.
“I believe sustainable peace is achievable,” the Pope said, adding that the Vatican’s diplomatic efforts, though, take place mostly “behind the scenes”.
The important thing, he said, was that those involved in armed conflict silence their weapons and sit at the same table to negotiate peace.
Responding to a question about dialogue and friendship, Pope Leo said his episcopal motto, In Illo Uno Unum (In the One, we are one), is an obvious reference to the unity found with faith in Christ.
But it also is “an invitation to all of us and to others to say, ‘The more we can promote authentic unity and understanding, respect and human relationships — so friendship and dialogue in the world – the greater possibility there is that we will put aside the arms of war’.”
As far as the conclave that elected him on May 8, the Pope said he holds “very strictly” to the secrecy of the election process.
“When I saw how things were going” in the conclave, he said, “I took a deep breath. I said, ‘Here we go, Lord. You are in charge, and you lead the way’.”
FULL STORY
Pope tells reporters dialogue is always the answer to tense situations (By Cindy Wooden, CNS)
