Pope Leo XIV has issued a sharp rebuke against anti-migrant activists in Europe and the United States, strongly criticizing those who exploit “fears” of Islam. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday at the conclusion of his first international trip—a visit that took him to Turkey and Lebanon—the head of the world’s $1.4$ billion Catholics championed the spirit of Christian-Muslim cooperation he witnessed in Lebanon as a model for the West.
The 70-year-old pontiff, who assumed leadership in May, stated clearly that anti-Muslim sentiment is “oftentimes generated by people who are against immigration and trying to keep out people who may be from another country, another religion, another race.”
He explained that the core purpose of his time in Lebanon was to visually demonstrate that “dialogue and friendship between Muslims and Christians is possible.” Pope Leo XIV shared stories he encountered during the trip of Christians and Muslims actively helping one another, calling them “lessons… that we should perhaps be a little less fearful.”
The US-born Pope, who previously spent two decades in Peru as an Augustinian order missionary, has consistently taken a critical stance on rising nationalist sentiment across Europe and the United States. He has previously called for an end to the “inhuman treatment” of migrants, specifically referencing actions under US President Donald Trump. He has also used his platform to exhort followers to reject an “exclusionary mindset” he believes is fueling nationalism globally, emphasizing that the Catholic Church “must open the borders between peoples and break down the barriers between class and race.”
Setting Sights on Africa
Wrapping up his inaugural international excursion, Pope Leo XIV revealed his plans for his next overseas destination: Africa. He expressed a strong desire to undertake an African tour in 2026, with a personal highlight being a visit to Algeria.
“I hope to make a trip to Africa, which could be my next trip,” the US Pope stated. “Personally, I hope to go to Algeria to visit the places from the life of Saint Augustine,” he added, referring to the influential fifth-century saint who hailed from the North African country. Given that Pope Leo belongs to the Augustinian order, a group founded in the $13^\text{th}$ century with nearly $3,000$ members across approximately $50$ countries, the trip holds a personal significance.
Such a visit, the Pontiff explained, would allow the leader of the Catholic Church to “continue the discourse of dialogue and bridge-building between the Christian and the Muslim worlds,” furthering his commitment to promoting understanding across faiths.
