Pope Leo Condemns Nationalist Exclusion, Sparks Debate on Church Hypocrisy
During a Pentecost mass in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo condemned the rise of nationalist movements and their exclusionary ideologies, urging for the dismantling of walls and the dispelling of hatred between peoples. He stressed the Church’s imperative to transcend prejudice and overcome barriers of class and race, promoting unity and understanding. The Pope’s message emphasized the importance of overcoming fear of those who are different, echoing previous papal criticism of nationalist rhetoric and policies. His remarks follow a long history of papal condemnation of exclusionary nationalism, continuing a tradition of outspoken opposition from his predecessor, Pope Francis.
John Q. Hosedrinker