A pope who gave hope for saving the planet
When Jorge Mario Bergoglio stepped onto the balcony of St Peter's Basilica on the night of his election in 2013, he did more than introduce himself as a man 'from the end of the world'. He signalled a new era.
In choosing the name Francis, honouring the saint from Assisi who spurned wealth and embraced the marginalised, this Argentinian Jesuit underscored a lifelong commitment to the poor and a deep desire to reform the Church from within.
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The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
Leo, the first US Pope, criticises nationalist politics
Pope Leo has criticised the emergence of nationalist political movements, calling them unfortunate, without naming a specific country or national leader. Leo, the first Pope from the US, asked during a mass with a crowd of tens of thousands in St Peter's Square that God would "open borders, break down walls (and) dispel hatred". "There is no room for prejudice, for 'security' zones separating us from our neighbours, for the exclusionary mindset that, unfortunately, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms," said the pontiff. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis as leader of the 1.4-billion-member church. Before becoming pontiff, Prevost was not shy about criticising US President Donald Trump, sharing numerous disapproving posts about Trump and Vice President JD Vance on X in recent years. The Vatican has not confirmed the new Pope's ownership of the X account, which had the handle @drprevost, and was deactivated after Leo's election. Francis, Pope for 12 years, was a sharp critic of Trump. The late Pope said in January that the president's plan to deport millions of migrants in the US during his second term was a "disgrace". Earlier, Francis said Trump was "not Christian" because of his views on immigration. "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian," Francis said when asked about Trump in 2016. Leo was celebrating a mass for Pentecost, one of the church's most important holidays. Pope Leo has criticised the emergence of nationalist political movements, calling them unfortunate, without naming a specific country or national leader. Leo, the first Pope from the US, asked during a mass with a crowd of tens of thousands in St Peter's Square that God would "open borders, break down walls (and) dispel hatred". "There is no room for prejudice, for 'security' zones separating us from our neighbours, for the exclusionary mindset that, unfortunately, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms," said the pontiff. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis as leader of the 1.4-billion-member church. Before becoming pontiff, Prevost was not shy about criticising US President Donald Trump, sharing numerous disapproving posts about Trump and Vice President JD Vance on X in recent years. The Vatican has not confirmed the new Pope's ownership of the X account, which had the handle @drprevost, and was deactivated after Leo's election. Francis, Pope for 12 years, was a sharp critic of Trump. The late Pope said in January that the president's plan to deport millions of migrants in the US during his second term was a "disgrace". Earlier, Francis said Trump was "not Christian" because of his views on immigration. "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian," Francis said when asked about Trump in 2016. Leo was celebrating a mass for Pentecost, one of the church's most important holidays. Pope Leo has criticised the emergence of nationalist political movements, calling them unfortunate, without naming a specific country or national leader. Leo, the first Pope from the US, asked during a mass with a crowd of tens of thousands in St Peter's Square that God would "open borders, break down walls (and) dispel hatred". "There is no room for prejudice, for 'security' zones separating us from our neighbours, for the exclusionary mindset that, unfortunately, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms," said the pontiff. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis as leader of the 1.4-billion-member church. Before becoming pontiff, Prevost was not shy about criticising US President Donald Trump, sharing numerous disapproving posts about Trump and Vice President JD Vance on X in recent years. The Vatican has not confirmed the new Pope's ownership of the X account, which had the handle @drprevost, and was deactivated after Leo's election. Francis, Pope for 12 years, was a sharp critic of Trump. The late Pope said in January that the president's plan to deport millions of migrants in the US during his second term was a "disgrace". Earlier, Francis said Trump was "not Christian" because of his views on immigration. "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian," Francis said when asked about Trump in 2016. Leo was celebrating a mass for Pentecost, one of the church's most important holidays. Pope Leo has criticised the emergence of nationalist political movements, calling them unfortunate, without naming a specific country or national leader. Leo, the first Pope from the US, asked during a mass with a crowd of tens of thousands in St Peter's Square that God would "open borders, break down walls (and) dispel hatred". "There is no room for prejudice, for 'security' zones separating us from our neighbours, for the exclusionary mindset that, unfortunately, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms," said the pontiff. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis as leader of the 1.4-billion-member church. Before becoming pontiff, Prevost was not shy about criticising US President Donald Trump, sharing numerous disapproving posts about Trump and Vice President JD Vance on X in recent years. The Vatican has not confirmed the new Pope's ownership of the X account, which had the handle @drprevost, and was deactivated after Leo's election. Francis, Pope for 12 years, was a sharp critic of Trump. The late Pope said in January that the president's plan to deport millions of migrants in the US during his second term was a "disgrace". Earlier, Francis said Trump was "not Christian" because of his views on immigration. "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian," Francis said when asked about Trump in 2016. Leo was celebrating a mass for Pentecost, one of the church's most important holidays.
The Advertiser
21-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Pope Leo appeals for Israel to allow aid in Gaza
Pope Leo XIV has appealed for Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, calling the situation in the Palestinian enclave "yet more worrying and saddening". "I renew my fervent appeal to allow for the entry of fair humanitarian help and to bring to an end to the hostilities, the devastating price of which is paid by children, the elderly and the sick," the new Pope said on Wednesday during his first weekly general audience in St Peter's Square. Leo, the former cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected the leader of the Catholic Church on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis. He has mentioned the situation in Gaza several times in the first weeks of his papacy. The appeal came at the end of the Pope's audience, when he added a few words to his prepared text. The Pope, who US President Donald Trump said on Monday had expressed interest in hosting Russia-Ukraine peace talks, did not mention that conflict. In his first Sunday message on May 11, the new pontiff called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for the release of all Israeli hostages held by militant group Hamas. Israel said on Monday that it would allow aid to enter Gaza after an 11-week blockade on the enclave, but the United Nations said no help had been distributed as of Tuesday. Israel says it plans to intensify military operations against Hamas and to control the whole of Gaza, which has been devastated by an Israeli air and ground war since Hamas's cross-border attack on Israeli communities in October 2023. Israel has said its blockade is aimed in part at preventing Palestinian militants from diverting and seizing aid supplies. Hamas has denied doing so. Francis, who died on April 21, had been ramping up criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza in the months before his death. He called the situation in the enclave "very serious and shameful" in January, two months after suggesting the international community should study whether there had been a genocide of the Palestinian people. Reflecting a chill in Vatican-Israel relations after Francis's criticisms, Israel, unlike many other nations, did not send a high-level official to attend the late pope's funeral, but only its Vatican ambassador. In a sign of possible hopes for a reset of relations with the new Pope, Israeli President Isaac Herzog attended Leo's inaugural Mass in St Peter's Square on Sunday. Pope Leo XIV has appealed for Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, calling the situation in the Palestinian enclave "yet more worrying and saddening". "I renew my fervent appeal to allow for the entry of fair humanitarian help and to bring to an end to the hostilities, the devastating price of which is paid by children, the elderly and the sick," the new Pope said on Wednesday during his first weekly general audience in St Peter's Square. Leo, the former cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected the leader of the Catholic Church on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis. He has mentioned the situation in Gaza several times in the first weeks of his papacy. The appeal came at the end of the Pope's audience, when he added a few words to his prepared text. The Pope, who US President Donald Trump said on Monday had expressed interest in hosting Russia-Ukraine peace talks, did not mention that conflict. In his first Sunday message on May 11, the new pontiff called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for the release of all Israeli hostages held by militant group Hamas. Israel said on Monday that it would allow aid to enter Gaza after an 11-week blockade on the enclave, but the United Nations said no help had been distributed as of Tuesday. Israel says it plans to intensify military operations against Hamas and to control the whole of Gaza, which has been devastated by an Israeli air and ground war since Hamas's cross-border attack on Israeli communities in October 2023. Israel has said its blockade is aimed in part at preventing Palestinian militants from diverting and seizing aid supplies. Hamas has denied doing so. Francis, who died on April 21, had been ramping up criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza in the months before his death. He called the situation in the enclave "very serious and shameful" in January, two months after suggesting the international community should study whether there had been a genocide of the Palestinian people. Reflecting a chill in Vatican-Israel relations after Francis's criticisms, Israel, unlike many other nations, did not send a high-level official to attend the late pope's funeral, but only its Vatican ambassador. In a sign of possible hopes for a reset of relations with the new Pope, Israeli President Isaac Herzog attended Leo's inaugural Mass in St Peter's Square on Sunday. Pope Leo XIV has appealed for Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, calling the situation in the Palestinian enclave "yet more worrying and saddening". "I renew my fervent appeal to allow for the entry of fair humanitarian help and to bring to an end to the hostilities, the devastating price of which is paid by children, the elderly and the sick," the new Pope said on Wednesday during his first weekly general audience in St Peter's Square. Leo, the former cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected the leader of the Catholic Church on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis. He has mentioned the situation in Gaza several times in the first weeks of his papacy. The appeal came at the end of the Pope's audience, when he added a few words to his prepared text. The Pope, who US President Donald Trump said on Monday had expressed interest in hosting Russia-Ukraine peace talks, did not mention that conflict. In his first Sunday message on May 11, the new pontiff called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for the release of all Israeli hostages held by militant group Hamas. Israel said on Monday that it would allow aid to enter Gaza after an 11-week blockade on the enclave, but the United Nations said no help had been distributed as of Tuesday. Israel says it plans to intensify military operations against Hamas and to control the whole of Gaza, which has been devastated by an Israeli air and ground war since Hamas's cross-border attack on Israeli communities in October 2023. Israel has said its blockade is aimed in part at preventing Palestinian militants from diverting and seizing aid supplies. Hamas has denied doing so. Francis, who died on April 21, had been ramping up criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza in the months before his death. He called the situation in the enclave "very serious and shameful" in January, two months after suggesting the international community should study whether there had been a genocide of the Palestinian people. Reflecting a chill in Vatican-Israel relations after Francis's criticisms, Israel, unlike many other nations, did not send a high-level official to attend the late pope's funeral, but only its Vatican ambassador. In a sign of possible hopes for a reset of relations with the new Pope, Israeli President Isaac Herzog attended Leo's inaugural Mass in St Peter's Square on Sunday. Pope Leo XIV has appealed for Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, calling the situation in the Palestinian enclave "yet more worrying and saddening". "I renew my fervent appeal to allow for the entry of fair humanitarian help and to bring to an end to the hostilities, the devastating price of which is paid by children, the elderly and the sick," the new Pope said on Wednesday during his first weekly general audience in St Peter's Square. Leo, the former cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected the leader of the Catholic Church on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis. He has mentioned the situation in Gaza several times in the first weeks of his papacy. The appeal came at the end of the Pope's audience, when he added a few words to his prepared text. The Pope, who US President Donald Trump said on Monday had expressed interest in hosting Russia-Ukraine peace talks, did not mention that conflict. In his first Sunday message on May 11, the new pontiff called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for the release of all Israeli hostages held by militant group Hamas. Israel said on Monday that it would allow aid to enter Gaza after an 11-week blockade on the enclave, but the United Nations said no help had been distributed as of Tuesday. Israel says it plans to intensify military operations against Hamas and to control the whole of Gaza, which has been devastated by an Israeli air and ground war since Hamas's cross-border attack on Israeli communities in October 2023. Israel has said its blockade is aimed in part at preventing Palestinian militants from diverting and seizing aid supplies. Hamas has denied doing so. Francis, who died on April 21, had been ramping up criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza in the months before his death. He called the situation in the enclave "very serious and shameful" in January, two months after suggesting the international community should study whether there had been a genocide of the Palestinian people. Reflecting a chill in Vatican-Israel relations after Francis's criticisms, Israel, unlike many other nations, did not send a high-level official to attend the late pope's funeral, but only its Vatican ambassador. In a sign of possible hopes for a reset of relations with the new Pope, Israeli President Isaac Herzog attended Leo's inaugural Mass in St Peter's Square on Sunday.
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- Perth Now
Pope Leo appeals for Israel to allow aid in Gaza
Pope Leo XIV has appealed for Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, calling the situation in the Palestinian enclave "yet more worrying and saddening". "I renew my fervent appeal to allow for the entry of fair humanitarian help and to bring to an end to the hostilities, the devastating price of which is paid by children, the elderly and the sick," the new Pope said on Wednesday during his first weekly general audience in St Peter's Square. Leo, the former cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected the leader of the Catholic Church on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis. He has mentioned the situation in Gaza several times in the first weeks of his papacy. The appeal came at the end of the Pope's audience, when he added a few words to his prepared text. The Pope, who US President Donald Trump said on Monday had expressed interest in hosting Russia-Ukraine peace talks, did not mention that conflict. In his first Sunday message on May 11, the new pontiff called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for the release of all Israeli hostages held by militant group Hamas. Israel said on Monday that it would allow aid to enter Gaza after an 11-week blockade on the enclave, but the United Nations said no help had been distributed as of Tuesday. Israel says it plans to intensify military operations against Hamas and to control the whole of Gaza, which has been devastated by an Israeli air and ground war since Hamas's cross-border attack on Israeli communities in October 2023. Israel has said its blockade is aimed in part at preventing Palestinian militants from diverting and seizing aid supplies. Hamas has denied doing so. Francis, who died on April 21, had been ramping up criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza in the months before his death. He called the situation in the enclave "very serious and shameful" in January, two months after suggesting the international community should study whether there had been a genocide of the Palestinian people. Reflecting a chill in Vatican-Israel relations after Francis's criticisms, Israel, unlike many other nations, did not send a high-level official to attend the late pope's funeral, but only its Vatican ambassador. In a sign of possible hopes for a reset of relations with the new Pope, Israeli President Isaac Herzog attended Leo's inaugural Mass in St Peter's Square on Sunday.
