Italy might have «a very important role» in achieving peace in Ukraine «due to the historical and cultural capacity that Italy has to be an intermediary in the midst of a conflict between different parties. Even between Ukraine, Russia and the United States.”
Pope Leo XIV responds to journalists on the return flight from Beirut to Rome and paints a picture of the world situation. Then announces a trip to Africa, warns against intolerance towards migrants and Muslim faithful and criticizes Trump’s idea of invading Venezuela. He answers eight questions in Italian, Spanish and English.
«First of all I want to say thank you to all of you who have worked so hard and I would like them to also convey this message to the other journalists, both in Turkey and in Lebanon, many who have worked to communicate the important messages of this trip», says Pope Leo. «So thanks to you, you all deserve a loud round of applause for your work too, thank you».
Your Holiness, I am Lebanese so I speak in Italian if you allow me. Your Holiness in your last speech, which I believe is very important, there was a clear message for the Lebanese authorities to negotiate, dialogue, build. Will the Vatican do something concrete in this regard? Then last night you also saw a Shiite representative. Before your trip to Beirut Hezbollah had sent a message, I don’t know if you received it, read it and what you could tell us about it. Thank you very much for visiting Lebanon, which was a dream for us.
«The trip was born thinking about ecumenical issues, with the theme of Nicaea, the meeting of the Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs and seeking unity in the church, but during this trip I also had personal meetings with representatives of different groups who actually represent political authorities, people or groups who also have something to do with internal or international conflicts in the region. Our work, mainly, is not a public thing that we declare on the streets, it’s a bit behind the scenes. This is what we have done and will continue to do to try to convince the parties to abandon weapons and violence and come together at the table for dialogue and seek answers and solutions that are not violent but can be more effective and better for the people”
And Hezbollah?
«Did I see him? Evidently yes. There is a proposal from the Church that they lay down their weapons and seek dialogue, but more than this I prefer not to comment in this context.”
Will he use his contacts with Trump and Netanyahu to hold Israel accountable for what it does? Do you think sustainable peace is possible in the region?
«Yes, I think we can achieve sustainable peace. I have already begun, in a very limited way, exchanges with some of the leaders of the places you mention, and I intend to continue to do so, either personally or through the Holy See, because we have diplomatic relations with most of the countries in the region, and it would be our hope to continue to appeal for peace.”
He recently said that he is learning to be the Pope, when he arrived yesterday at the meeting with the young people he seemed to say “wow”. What is he learning? What is the hardest thing about being Pope? And what did you feel during the Conclave when it was clear that he would be elected?
«Well, I would say that a couple of years ago I also thought that one day I would retire. She apparently received this gift! (the question was asked by a journalist who is on her last papal flight, ed.). Some of us will continue to work instead. As for the Conclave, I strictly believe in the rule of secrecy, although I know that there have been public interviews that have revealed something. The day before I was elected a journalist – she soon met me on the street, I was going to lunch at the Augustinians across the street – asked me: ‘What do you think, you have become one of the candidates’, and I simply replied: ‘It’s all in God’s hands’, and I really think so. A German journalist asked me the other day what is a book that explains who I am, there are several, but one is The Practice of the Presence of God, it is a very simple book written by someone who doesn’t even say his surname, Brother Lawrence, written many years ago. It describes a type of prayer and spirituality in which one gives one’s life to the Lord and allows Him to lead. If you want to know something about me, this is my spirituality for many years, in the midst of great challenges, when I lived in Peru in the years of terrorism, when I was called to serve in places I never thought I would be called to serve, I trust God and this message is something I share with others. How did it go (at the conclave, ed.)? I resigned myself to the fact that when I saw things going in a way that could be a reality, I took a big breath and said, ‘God, you’re the one in charge and you’re the one leading.’ I don’t know that I said ‘wow’ the other night (in the meeting with the young people) with my facial expression… I’m often amused by how journalists interpret my face. It’s interesting, sometimes I get great ideas from you because you think you can read my mind or my face and you don’t always guess. For me it is always wonderful to see these young people, listening to their enthusiasm and their message to the message is sometimes a great inspiration to me.”
At the moment there is tension between NATO and Russia, there is talk of hybrid warfare: do you see the risk of escalation, of the conflict being carried forward with new means, as denounced by NATO leaders? And in this climate can there be a negotiation for a just peace without Europe, which in recent months has been systematically excluded by the American administration?
«This is obviously an important issue for world peace where, however, the Holy See does not have direct participation because we are not members of NATO or of the dialogues so far, even though we have many times asked for a ceasefire, dialogue and not war. A war with many aspects now, even with the increase in weapons, all their production, cyberattacks and the issue of energy, very serious now that winter is coming. It is clear that on the one hand the president of the United States thinks that he can promote a peace plan that he would like to make, and which at least initially was, without Europe, but the presence of Europe is important and that first proposal was also modified due to what Europe was saying. Specifically, I think that Italy’s role could be very important, due to the historical and cultural capacity that Italy has to be an intermediary in the midst of a conflict between different parties, including Ukraine, Russia and the United States. In this sense I could suggest that the Holy See can encourage this type of mediation and we seek, or we seek together, a solution that could truly offer a just peace, in this case in Ukraine”.
Are you preparing trips to Latin America for next year? In Peru, Argentina, Uruguay?
«Surely there is nothing, I hope to take a trip to Africa, it would possibly be the next trip, it is to be confirmed. Personally I hope to go to Algeria to visit the places of Saint Augustine’s life but also to continue the dialogue and build bridges between the Christian world and the Muslim world: the figure of Saint Augustine helps a lot as a bridge because in Algeria he is highly respected as a son of the homeland. We are working on the possibility of trips to some other countries: obviously I would really like to visit Latin America, Argentina, Uruguay, which are awaiting the Pope’s visit. I think Peru will welcome me (laughs), and if I go to Peru there are many neighboring countries. But the project is not yet defined. In 2026 or 2027.”
Speaking of Latin America, there is a lot of tension in Venezuela, there is an ultimatum from Trump to Maduro to withdraw and a threat of a military operation: what do you think?
«At the level of the episcopal conference, with the nuncio, we are looking for ways to calm the situation, looking first and foremost at the good of the people, because often those who suffer in this situation are normal people, not the authorities. The rumors that come from the United States sometimes change with a certain frequency, we have to see. On the one hand it seems that there was a phone call between the two presidents, on the other hand it seems that there is the possibility that there are activities, even operations to invade Venezuelan territory. I don’t know more. I really think it’s better to look for avenues for dialogue, maybe pressure, including economic pressure, but look for other ways to change, if that’s what the United States wants to do.”
Some Catholics in Europe think that Islam is a threat to Christianity in the West: do you think they are right? What would you tell them?
«All the conversations I had during the time I spent in Turkey and Lebanon, including with many Muslims, were really focused on the topic of peace and respect for people of other religions. I know that in fact it hasn’t always been this way. I know that in Europe there are many times fears which however are generated by people who are against immigration and try to keep out people from another country, another religion, another race. In this sense I would like to say that we all need to work together, one of the values of this trip was precisely to draw the world’s attention to the possibility of dialogue and friendship between Christians and Muslims. I think one of the great lessons that Lebanon can teach is to show the world a country where Islam and Christianity are both present and respected and that there is the possibility of living together, of being friends. The stories, the testimonies that we have heard in the last few days of how people help each other, Christians and Muslims, both having had their villages destroyed for example, and say: we can be together and work together. I think these are lessons that will be important to be heard in Europe and North America as well, and that we should perhaps be a little less fearful and look for ways to promote dialogue and authentic respect.”
