logo
Elon Musk Reposts Pope's Suggestion That Vatican Can Host Global Talks For 'Enemy' Nations

Elon Musk Reposts Pope's Suggestion That Vatican Can Host Global Talks For 'Enemy' Nations

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday urged world leaders to hold talks at the Vatican
He said the Holy See was willing to 'help enemies meet'
Some X users agree that the Vatican would be a great location for global summits
Others believe religion and politics should remain separate
Elon Musk on Wednesday shared a post by Pope Leo XIV wherein the recently elected pontiff made a significant suggestion on the Vatican potentially playing a role in global dialogue amid the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and trade tensions simmering worldwide.
While the tech titan did not say anything to add to the Pope's suggestion, his repost indicates he may find the recommendation feasible. Pope Leo XIV Says Holy See Open to Hosting Summit
In his post, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff in history, said the Holy See, the pope's office, "is willing to help enemies meet."
"With heart in hand, I say to the leaders of nations: let us meet; let us dialogue; let us negotiate!" he wrote Wednesday, seemingly referring to the geopolitical tensions over global wars and potentially even the Trump-initiated trade war. Elon Musk reposted Pope Leo XIV's call to global leaders to negotiate and engage in dialogue at the Vatican. Elon Musk on X / Screenshot
The new pope is known for not shying away from talking about politics or at least weighing in on some things politicians say.
Earlier this year, using his personal account on X, Pope Leo XIV took a swipe at Vice President JD Vance, who suggested that there is an order when it comes to love among Christians.
"JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others," the pope wrote at the time. X Users React to Pope's Notion
Meanwhile, X users have had various reactions to the pontiff's post, with some agreeing that the Vatican should play a role in global talks, while others believe the church should remain separate from the state.
"The Vatican should be the meeting place for the world, not the UN," one user wrote.
The Vatican should be the meeting place for the world, not the UN — Tony Hrvatska 🌴🕊 (@tonybalogna) May 14, 2025
Another user agreed that negotiations should be normalized and communicating "in a friendly manner" should be considered.
We should accept negotiations and communicate in a friendly manner! — ❤️Superdan (@Super__dandan) May 15, 2025
One X user said there is a "lack of neutral territory needed for substantive peace negotiations," and the Holy Father's recommendation for the Vatican to be the meeting place for global leaders was a great opportunity.
This is a great idea! I was just talking with my son about the lack of neutral territory needed for substantive peace negotiations. Thank you, Holy Father , for this wonderful opportunity and I pray the appropriate leaders will respond positively. — Steve Bentley (@SuaSponteSteve) May 15, 2025
Others encouraged the pope to consider reaching out to the leaders of Ukraine and Russia and also host other discussions at the Vatican.
You should seriously consider reaching out to Russia and Ukraine and offer to host their talks in the Vatican. What a message!!! — Bill G (@sflgent61) May 14, 2025
A message so desperately needed today. I can't think of a better place for dialogue — P.K. Pajak (@PK_Pajak) May 14, 2025
On the other hand, there were some users who said it wasn't the pope's place to intervene in political topics. Some also pushed back on the idea of allowing religion and politics to converge.
As a Catholic, it is not your place to act politically. — 👑HRH Chelsy, 💝 Only Princess of Sussex👑 (@MrMrsHenryWales) May 15, 2025
Stop this stupidity. Some things should be kept away from religion politics! — zidantimesKE (@zidantimes) May 15, 2025
It remains to be seen whether leaders will heed the pope's advice and consider utilizing the Vatican as a negotiating table. His call comes during critical geopolitical times as wars rage on and trade tensions escalate.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump Names Stallone, Strait Among Kennedy Center Honorees
Trump Names Stallone, Strait Among Kennedy Center Honorees

Int'l Business Times

timean hour ago

  • Int'l Business Times

Trump Names Stallone, Strait Among Kennedy Center Honorees

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday named "Rocky" star Sylvester Stallone and country music great George Strait among the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors, as he pursues a controversial overhaul of the storied arts venue. Since returning to office in January, the Republican leader has declared war on what he calls "woke" viewpoints espoused in the nation's cultural institutions, including a fresh probe of content at several Smithsonian museums. The Kennedy Center, a living monument to the late John F. Kennedy that opened in 1971, has long enjoyed bipartisan support but has been in the president's crosshairs, and he appointed himself board chairman in February. "We have completely reversed the decline of this cherished national institution," Trump told reporters at the stately white marble complex overlooking the Potomac River. "We ended the woke political programming." Also receiving the Kennedy Center Honors, one of the nation's highest arts awards for lifetime achievement, will be disco diva Gloria Gaynor, rock band KISS and British actor Michael Crawford, known for Broadway's "Phantom of the Opera." Trump announced he himself would host the awards gala, which usually takes place in early December and is later broadcast on CBS. "I did not insist, but I think it will be quite successful," he said. He also joked that he wanted an honor himself but was "never able to get one." Stallone, who at 79 is the same age as Trump, is a three-time Oscar nominee: for best actor and screenplay for the 1976 classic boxing flick "Rocky," and for best supporting actor, again in the Rocky Balboa role, in the 2015 follow-up "Creed." Trump called Stallone a "great actor." He is also a major Trump supporter and one of the president's "Hollywood ambassadors" along with Jon Voight and Mel Gibson. In November 2024, at a post-election event at Trump's Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida, Stallone called him "the second George Washington." Strait, 73, is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, with more than 120 million records sold. He is known for huge hits like "All My Exes Live in Texas" and "Amarillo by Morning." "He's a good looking guy. Hope he still looks like that," Trump quipped. Gaynor, 81, is the singer behind the monster disco anthem "I Will Survive." KISS, formed in the 1970s in Trump's hometown New York City, gained fame with its shock rock performances and outlandish black and white face paint. "They work hard, and they're still working hard," the US president said. Crawford, 83, made his mark on British television in the 1970s before achieving international success by originating the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Phantom of the Opera," thrilling audiences with his powerful tenor voice. "I think he's one of the greatest talents I've ever actually seen," Trump said Wednesday. In his first term, from 2017 to 2021, the Republican president skipped the Kennedy Center Honors gala because some of the artists receiving awards criticized him or said they would not attend in his presence. The Kennedy Center is home to the National Symphony Orchestra and also offers theater, opera, comedy and other productions. Many artists associated with the center, including opera singer Renee Fleming and musician Ben Folds, have cut ties with the institution since Trump took the reins. Others including comedian Issa Rae canceled performances. The producers of smash hit historical musical "Hamilton" opted to cancel a scheduled 2026 run, citing the end of "neutrality" at the center. "We're restoring the Kennedy Center as the premier venue for performing arts anywhere in the country, anywhere in the world," Trump said. "It was being run down, money wasn't being spent properly. They were building things they shouldn't have built that nobody wanted instead of taking care of the great gem that it is." The Smithsonian Institution, which runs a vast network of museums, said it was reviewing a White House letter announcing a probe of content aimed at removing "divisive or partisan narratives." Among the museums targeted are the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Museum of the American Indian, the letter said. Country music legend George Strait, seen in 2017, will receive the Kennedy Center Honors AFP Donald Trump (L) greets Sylvester Stallone at an event at Mar-a-Lago in November 2024; the actor has been a stawlwart supporter AFP Singer Gloria Gaynor is the disco diva behind 'I Will Survive' AFP KISS founding members Gene Simmons (L) and Paul Stanley perform in 2012; they will be honored at the Kennedy Center AFP British actor Michael Crawford will receive a Kennedy Center Honor AFP

What Ukrainians expect of the Putin-Trump summit – DW – 08/13/2025
What Ukrainians expect of the Putin-Trump summit – DW – 08/13/2025

DW

time3 hours ago

  • DW

What Ukrainians expect of the Putin-Trump summit – DW – 08/13/2025

Are Ukrainian experts and politicians optimistic about the upcoming talks between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska? Or do they doubt there will be a real breakthrough? Soon after the August 15 meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska was announced, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy put out a video warning against excluding his country from the talks: "Any decisions made against us, any decisions made without Ukraine, are decisions made against peace. They will not work." Many Ukrainians share this view, according to a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in late July and early August. "Ukrainians remain open to negotiations and making difficult decisions," Anton Hruschezkyj of KIIS told DW. "The absolute majority, however, continues to reject demands for [Ukrainian] surrender." According to the survey, 76% of Ukrainians reject Russia's "peace plan" and the idea of making concessions to Russia. At the same time, 49% oppose the US peace plan that entails security guarantees for Ukraine from European countries but not from the US, recognizes Crimea as part of the Russian Federation, maintains Russian control over Ukraine's occupied territories, and lifts sanctions against Russia. Ukrainians do not rule out that the upcoming negotiations between Putin and Trump, which will not have Ukrainian or European representatives present, will be aimed at forcing Ukraine to capitulate. "The Russians never changed their negotiating stance and will not do so as long as they do not suffer serious military and political defeats," Volodymyr Horbach of the Ukrainian Institute for Northern Eurasia Transformation (INET) told DW. The fact that Trump is talking to Putin without first pressuring Russia to change its stance shows that this approach is doomed to failure, Horbach says. "The Russians will stick to their position and want to offer a ceasefire in return for Ukraine's de facto surrender, in other words, fulfilling Russian demands. So calling this concessions is very naive," Horbach said. The analyst does not regard the upcoming Putin-Trump talks as a disaster, but says they signal an "alarming trend" as Trump is "legitimizing Russian war criminal Vladimir Putin, which is unacceptable to Ukraine and Europe." Horbach said he sees "no possibility of implementing any real, practical outcomes of these negotiations in the context of the Ukrainian-Russian war. The proposals that Putin may make will satisfy neither Ukraine nor the European Union." He added that "Trump will have to maneuver, he will not be able to force Ukraine and its European partners to accept Putin's terms." Ukraine was in a similar situation in March 2025, says Dmytro Levus, who heads the Ukrainian Meridian Social Research Center. At the time, Donald Trump believed that the war could be quickly ended by negotiating with Russia and enforcing a peace agreement based on Ukraine's surrender. Lifting sanctions on Russia, however, proved impossible, as most of them had been imposed by the Europeans, Levus said. He believes that after this Alaska meeting, the US and Russia will once again have to face reality — Ukrainian forces continue defending their country and Ukrainian's European partners will not unconditionally accept and implement any deal agreed between Putin and Trump. "Ukraine's position, as stated by Zelenskyy, is clear and correct: the [Ukrainian] constitution does not allow for the ceding of [Ukrainian] territory," Levus told DW. "That is why I do not expect anything meaningful to come out of the Alaska meeting." Iryna Herashchenko, one of the leaders of Ukraine's opposition European Solidarity Party, says the Putin-Trump meeting represents a challenge for the entire international security system. She explains that it would signal to the whole world that violence can go unpunished if Russia, the aggressor, is rewarded for its attack on Ukraine, for annexing parts of the country and for committing war crimes. That is why Herashchenko says recognizing Russian occupation is a red line that must not be crossed. "This would pave the way for new wars, not only in our region," Herashchenko said on Telegram. "That is why all negotiations should be conducted with the participation of Ukraine and the EU, with strict security guarantees, international monitoring, and provisions for sanctions." Anything else would not bring peace, but only lead to new war. Danylo Hetmantsev of Ukraine's rulingServant of the People party takes a more positive view of the upcoming talks, saying the summit will finally reveal Russia's stance. "If there are once again attempts at 'diplomatic maneuvering' instead of productive negotiations at the meeting, this will likely lead to the imposition of tough American sanctions, including on Russia's allies, who will have to pay for supporting the aggressor, which they will not like," Hetmantsev said on Telegram. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video At the same time, Ukrainian experts do not rule out that the US will once again try blackmailing Ukraine into accepting unacceptable conditions after the Putin-Trump summit. Kyiv-Mohyla Academy lecturer and Ukrainian Prism think tank researcher Oleksandr Kraiev believes that Trump could threaten to halt arms deliveries to Ukraine. "But [weapons] deliveries are already sporadic and unsystematic, so it won't be as much of a shock as when Trump first announced something like this," Kraiev told DW. He believes the summit will be purely held for the "sake of talks," as neither side has any real idea of how the war should end. "There could be a joint statement on continuing the talks, but that's all," Kraiev said.

Germany rejects US censorship claims in human rights report – DW – 08/13/2025
Germany rejects US censorship claims in human rights report – DW – 08/13/2025

DW

time4 hours ago

  • DW

Germany rejects US censorship claims in human rights report – DW – 08/13/2025

The report itself has been accused of political bias, with the US softening criticism of Israel and El Salvador. Germany rejected the report saying it has "a very high level of freedom of expression." Human rights, such as freedom of expression, are under threat in Germany and other European countries, according to the 2024 Human Rights Report by the US State Department. The report, which in former years has been seen as a reliable point of reference for global human rights advocacy, has been criticized by human rights groups as containing numerous omissions and mischaracterizations to fit the current US administration's political aims. The German government rejected the report. "There is no censorship in Germany," Deputy Government Spokesman Steffen Meyer said. "We have a very high level of freedom of expression in Germany, and we will continue to defend it in every form," he added. "The human rights situation in Germany worsened during the year," an executive summary of the report's Germany entry said. "Significant human rights issues included restrictions on freedom of expression and credible reports of crimes, violence, or threats of violence motivated by antisemitism," the report said. The report stated, however, that the German government "took some credible steps to investigate, prosecute, and punish officials who committed human rights abuses." The report follows on from comments made by US Vice President JD Vance in February, in which he accused Germany and other European allies of imposing restrictions on free speech and attempting to marginalize far-right parties, including the Alternative for Germany (AfD). His remarks have been described as "intrusive" by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The report devotes a much smaller section to Israel than it did last year and fails to mention the severe humanitarian crisis and death toll in the Gaza Strip amid Israel's ongoing offensive against the Palestininian militant group Hamas. El Salvador, which was described in the 2023 report under the Biden administration as having "significant human rights issues," also got off lightly in 2024. "There were no credible reports of significant human rights abuses," the 2024 report said about the Central American country, whose president, Nayib Bukele, is accused of overseeing unlawful and arbitrary killings, torture and harsh prison conditions. The Trump administration's relations with El Salvador have strengthened in recent months, with Washington using a high-security mega-prison in the country to house migrants it has deported under draconian new migration policies. Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine was referred to in the report mainly as the "Russia-Ukraine war," though it did say Russia's forces and officials were reported to have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and abuses in Ukraine. In contrast, countries such as South Africa and Brazil, with whose governments Trump has clashed, came in for severe criticism that was not contained in the 2023 report. The report was issued with a delay as officials appointed by US President Donald Trump altered an earlier draft to bring it into line with his administration's foreign policies and ideological slant. It was prepared after the department underwent a major revamp during which hundreds of people were dismissed, many from the agency's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, which has a large role in writing the report. In April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in an opinion piece that the bureau had become a nest of "left-wing activists" and pledged that the Trump administration would change its focus in favor of "Western values." "The report demonstrates what happens when political agendas take priority over the facts," said Josh Paul, a former State Department official and director of nongovernmental organization A New Policy. "The outcome is a much-abbreviated product that is more reflective of a Soviet propaganda release than of a democratic system," he told Reuters news agency. Rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also criticized the report, saying the Trump administration had mischaracterized some records of abuses and omitted others to suit its political agenda. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, however, defended the report, saying it had been restructured to improve readability and to stop it from being a list of "politically biased demands and assertions."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store