Pope Leo XIV caresses a little girl when he arrives to celebrate a mass for the jubilee of new religious associations on the day of Pentecost in Saint-Pierre in the Vatican, Sunday June 8, 2025.
Andrew Medichini / AP
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Andrew Medichini / AP
Vatican City – Pope Leo XIV criticized the push of nationalist political movements in the world while he prayed Sunday for reconciliation and dialogue – a message in accordance with his promises to make the Catholic Church a symbol of peace.
The pope celebrated Sunday mass on Saint-Pierre square in front of tens of thousands of faithful, and asked the Holy Spirit to “decompose the barriers and demolish the walls of indifference and hatred”.
“Where there is love, there is no room for prejudices, for the” security “areas that separate us from our neighbors, for the exclusion mentality which, tragically, we now see emerging in political nationalisms,” said the first American pontiff.
He did not appoint any specific country or politician.
Leo also recalled the words of Pope Francis, who – during the Pentecost feast in May 2023 – observed that in our world “we are all connected, but we disconnected from each other, anesthetized by indifference and overwhelmed by solitude”.
The pope also condemned wars, which “turn our world” and asked the Holy Spirit “the gift of peace”.
“First of all, peace in our hearts, because only a peaceful heart can spread peace in family, society and international relations,” said Leo, then prayed for reconciliation and dialogue wherever there is war in the world.
Shortly after having become Pope, Leo has committed to work for unity and peace. His first message, “Peace Be With You”, put the importance of peace as a pillar of its papacy.
He also asked for a real and just a peace in Ukraine and a cease-fire in Gaza.