At Sunday’s Pentecost Mass on June 8th, Pope Leo XIV spoke out against the rise of exclusionary nationalism, warning of its incompatibility with Christian love and unity.
Addressing tens of thousands in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope prayed for God to “open borders, break down walls, dispel hatred,” and declared:
There is no room for prejudice, for ‘security’ zones separating us from our neighbours, for the exclusionary mindset that, tragically, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms.
While the Pope did not name any specific country or leader, the remarks come amid growing debate over how he will position himself following the papacy of Francis. As the first pope from the United States, Leo XIV’s stance on social and political issues is being closely watched.
