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Arab News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Why Pope Leo XIV's message of peace and unity resonates in the Middle East
LONDON: On May 8, Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and announced the name the world had been waiting for. With a mix of surprise, joy, and curiosity in the crowd below, he revealed that the College of Cardinals had chosen Robert Francis Prevost as the 269th pontiff of the Catholic Church. He would take the name Pope Leo XIV. Prevost, 69, had appeared on papabile lists circulated by Vatican watchers, but his election surprised not just the Fantapapa players — a fantasy game for papal predictions — but much of the church hierarchy and media. For days, speculation had centered around Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's secretary of state, whose role as the Vatican's number two and deep diplomatic experience made him a frontrunner. As is often the case with papal elections, the secrecy and discernment of the Conclave delivered a choice that defied predictions, leaving the world to piece together a portrait of the new pontiff after the fact. Despite the Vatican's characteristic reluctance to comment on its own decisions, the early signals from Leo have offered some insight into the kind of leader he may be. His papacy begins at a moment when the Western world, in particular, appears to be searching for moral clarity, especially in relation to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Three immediate clues point to the direction Leo may take. First, his name. As with all pontifical names, the choice is steeped in symbolism. In this case, Leo is a reference to Pope Leo XIII, remembered as the pope of Catholic social teaching. In 1891, Leo XIII published Rerum Novarum ('Of Revolutionary Change'), an encyclical that addressed the impact of the Industrial Revolution on workers and called for a Church more engaged with modern social issues. The name suggests Pope Leo XIV may seek to revive that tradition, engaging with today's global inequalities and the disruptive forces of technology. The second indication came from his first words as pope. Delivered in eloquent Italian, he issued a direct and urgent appeal: 'Peace in the world.' In an age marked by war in Gaza, violence in Sudan, and prolonged suffering in Syria, the message struck a chord. It was a simple phrase, but one that carried weight, reminding listeners of the Vatican's potential to offer moral guidance amid geopolitical chaos. Third, and perhaps most symbolically, is his nationality. As Aldo Cazzullo, deputy editor of Corriere della Sera, noted, the election of the first North American pope inevitably carries geopolitical meaning. Just as John Paul II's Polish roots shaped his response to Soviet Communism, and Pope Francis's Argentinian background informed his focus on the poor and the Global South, Pope Leo's American identity may influence how he engages with the world's power structures. 'From his first words after the election and his strong emphasis on peace, it is clear that there will be continuity with Pope Francis, though certainly expressed in his own style and sensitivity,' Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Vicar Apostolic of Southern Arabia, told Arab News. 'The choice of name also seems very significant to me. As he himself explained, choosing the name 'Leo' he wants to recall Pope Leo XIII, the Pope of Rerum Novarum, who was attentive to the needs of workers. 'He was the pope who faced the Industrial Revolution and defended the dignity of the human person.' He argued that by aligning himself with that legacy, Leo may be hinting at a similar approach to today's challenges, especially the rise of artificial intelligence, labor displacement and pervasive economic inequality. Martinelli also pointed out that while Leo is American by birth, his missionary work in Latin America has shaped his worldview. 'Certainly, the election of a pope is connected to the historical context,' he said. 'However, that alone is not enough to explain the cardinals' choice. 'Personality and the ability to embody the church in its unity and universality' played a significant role in his election, he added. Taken together, the opening moments of Leo's pontificate paint a clear picture of continuity with his predecessor — particularly in advancing church reform and championing peace and justice in conflict zones such as the Gaza Strip. Just a week into his papacy, Leo is already emerging as a spiritual and moral successor to Pope Francis, especially in matters concerning the Middle East. 'First of all, Pope Leo XIV is the son of migrants,' said Martinelli. 'Catholics in the Arabian Peninsula are, for the most part, migrants themselves. For this reason, I believe he may have the right sensitivity to understand the reality of the faithful living in this part of the world.' Martinelli pointed to Leo's first greeting and his Regina Caeli address as evidence of his deep concern for the Middle East. 'Both were marked by a strong appeal for peace,' he said. 'I am confident that his commitment to peace will be both concrete and consistent.' Francis, who appointed Leo to key Vatican roles and made him a cardinal in 2023 following years of missionary work in Peru, had been a vocal critic of the wars in Sudan, Gaza, Syria and Yemen. His remarks — often perceived as a rare moral stance in the Western world — strained relations with Israeli officials. In the days after his death, Israeli embassies were instructed to remove public condolences, and most senior leaders boycotted his funeral. In contrast, Leo has delivered repeated appeals for peace, both in public appearances and private meetings. Though simple in tone, his words appear to resonate, especially in a region exhausted by conflict. On May 14, he praised Christian communities in the Middle East who 'persevere and remain in their homelands, resisting the temptation to abandon them' despite war, marginalization, or persecution — remarks seen as a veiled reference to the ongoing displacement of Christians from the West Bank by Israeli settlers. Unlike his predecessor, whose forthright condemnations sometimes led to diplomatic fallout, Leo has so far adopted a more measured yet persistent tone. 'I believe his words clearly indicate the path he intends to follow, and they will surely be well received in the Gulf region and throughout the Middle East,' said Martinelli. While avoiding direct criticism of Israeli or Western leaders, Leo has offered to mediate between warring parties and pledged to 'make every effort so that this peace may prevail.' He also cautioned against framing ongoing conflicts as binary and simplistic narratives that divide the world into good and evil, stressing the need for dialogue — not just between political leaders, but among religious communities — as the only path forward in times of deep moral and societal crisis. 'The commitment to dialogue between people of different faiths is extremely important — vital in an age where religion still risks being exploited for nationalistic purposes,' said Martinelli. 'Committing violence in the name of God is always a betrayal of true religious experience; it is a misuse of religion.' For Martinelli, peace in Gaza and across the region must be rooted in interfaith dialogue — particularly between Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam — if it is to be credible and sustainable in a region long marred by sectarian violence and instability. That dialogue gained fresh momentum during Francis's historic 2019 visit to the UAE, the first ever papal visit to the Arabian Gulf. There, Francis and Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar Mosque, signed the Document on Human Fraternity, a groundbreaking call to reject violence and extremism. That message was amplified again during Francis's 2021 pilgrimage to Iraq, a journey viewed by many as an attempt to mend bridges between the different faiths in the country. 'Pope Francis' commitment to interreligious dialogue — expressed most notably in his visit to Abu Dhabi and the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity — belongs to a well-established tradition in the church,' Martinelli said. 'This seems to me to be an irreversible path for the Catholic Church. For this reason, I am confident that Pope Leo XIV will carry forward and deepen this journey, which is also essential for promoting peace and reconciliation in the world.' While it is still too early to say whether Leo will launch new diplomatic initiatives in the region, his early statements suggest that he could seek to position the Vatican as an active mediator, as Francis once did during the Syrian conflict. All signs point to Leo adopting a tone of moral clarity reminiscent of his predecessor: condemning violence, encouraging interfaith cooperation, and offering hope. What remains uncertain is how effectively he will balance this moral authority with the pragmatic demands of a volatile geopolitical landscape. What is clear, however, is that the Chicago-born missionary is likely to build on Francis's diplomatic legacy — one that transformed the Vatican into a modern soft-power institution rooted in moral imperatives.
CNN
10-05-2025
- General
- CNN
CNN takes a look at intriguing popes from the past
After two days of deliberations, cardinals have elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the first American pontiff in history. The length of the process suggests that Prevost - who will be known as Pope Leo XIV - has quickly impressed his peers. But history shows us it's not always an easy choice. CNN's James Frater goes through the archives to look at past instances when they didn't quite get it right.
CNN
10-05-2025
- General
- CNN
CNN takes a look at intriguing popes from the past
After two days of deliberations, cardinals have elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the first American pontiff in history. The length of the process suggests that Prevost - who will be known as Pope Leo XIV - has quickly impressed his peers. But history shows us it's not always an easy choice. CNN's James Frater goes through the archives to look at past instances when they didn't quite get it right.
CNN
10-05-2025
- General
- CNN
CNN takes a look at intriguing popes from the past
After two days of deliberations, cardinals have elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the first American pontiff in history. The length of the process suggests that Prevost - who will be known as Pope Leo XIV - has quickly impressed his peers. But history shows us it's not always an easy choice. CNN's James Frater goes through the archives to look at past instances when they didn't quite get it right.
CNN
10-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
A Second Grade Conclave Elected a Kid Pope - CNN 5 Good Things - Podcast on CNN Audio
Krista Bo 00:00:00 Hey there! It's a good day to look at the bright side, isn't it? Roxanne 00:00:03 He's just such the sweetest dog. His eyes are always smiling, and I've never seen anybody so happy to come to work. Linda 00:00:11 Oh, I don't know what we do without him. Krista Bo 00:00:13 'The seven-year-old Shih Tzu had nowhere to go until residents at a senior home gave him a second chance. Plus, mothers know best, don't they? Your mothers gave the advice, and you brought it to us just in time for Mother's Day. From CNN, I'm Krista Bo, and this is Five Good Things. Krista Bo 00:00:34 On Thursday, history was made at the Vatican. White smoke rose. Pope Leo XIV 00:00:40 Habemus Papam! We have a pope! Krista Bo 00:00:44 And the world met the very first American pope. Pope Leo XIV 00:00:49 Peace be with you all! Krista Bo 00:00:54 Cardinal Robert Prevost took the name of Pope Leo XIV, and people around the world, Catholic or not, rejoiced. But a day before that historic moment in Vatican City, another papal election took place in Cumming, Georgia, where second graders held a conclave of their own. Father Matthew Kaderaback 00:01:10 And we thought it would be an exciting, fun, and very informative way of learning what was going on in Rome at this time. Krista Bo 00:01:19 Father Matthew Kadarebek is the Pinecrest Academy's chaplain. He oversaw the secret ballot process at the Catholic school. Father Matthew Kaderaback 00:01:26 And then it was my important job to count those ballots and then burn the ballots so that when the second graders walked out of our Sistine Chapel outside, they could see that it was white smoke and that we had a new pope. Krista Bo 00:01:41 'With his white robe, red shoulder cape and walking stick, seven-year-old Pope David emerged to greet his classmates and teachers and offer his blessings. Father Matthew Kaderaback 00:01:54 I was so proud of David. He's just the cutest, humble little kid. He stepped right into it like he had been doing it his whole life. Krista Bo 00:02:03 After a full day of papal duties, Pope David told a Catholic newspaper that he was surprised and honored to be chosen. And that riding in the golf cart turned Pope Mobile was definitely a highlight. Kids cheering 00:02:16 Pope David! Pope David! Krista Bo 00:02:16 'Kids also got loli-popes at lunch, and when they went home from school on Thursday after Pope Leo XIV was elected, they took home some pope- corn. Father Matthew Kaderaback 00:02:24 We were watching it. Everyone paused their classes and watched as the pope came out onto the balcony. We cheered and some of us cried. I was one of them. Such a beautiful moment. Krista Bo 00:02:39 'So we've been talking a lot about Vatican City this week, but now let's turn to another iconic Italian city that starts with a V - Venice! Krista Bo 00:02:50 It's one of the most enchanting cities in the world, but I'm sure you've heard, it's also quite literally sinking. But engineers are now testing a new bold idea. CNN Anchor and National Correspondent Erica Hill recently visited the city of canals to learn how it can be saved for this Sunday's edition of The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper. Thanks for joining, Erica. Erica Hill 00:03:09 It's so great to be here. Thanks for having me. Krista Bo 00:03:12 Awesome. So I got to tell you, I was at the bar waiting for a friend during happy hour and I was watching a clip from your episode and the bartender asked me what I was watching. I told her and she goes, honestly, I think about Venice, like men think about the Roman Empire, which is to say a lot. She's one of the people that wants to visit before it's quote unquote too late and myself included. But you spoke to engineers and oceanologists that say, it's not happening tomorrow, it's super dire but there's ideas that are in place. Erica Hill 00:03:43 There are. So I think you know what the what the woman said to you at the bar is how most people feel. They look at Venice and they think Venice is sinking Venice is flooding. If I don't go now, I'm gonna miss the opportunity. So the good news is you have time. You don't need to rush, so you can take a minute to plan out that trip When it works best for you. Erica Hill 00:03:59 Are there challenges though? Absolutely, so Venice is, it is an engineering marvel when you think about it. Built, you know over a thousand years ago, and it's a collection of more than a hundred islands and they were built by shoving sticks into the floor of the lagoon, and then they basically built on top of these sticks. So it's amazing that this stuff is still there. That being said, it's going to take a little bit of a beating. Erica Hill 00:04:23 'So thanks to climate change, rising sea levels across the globe, there's only so much they can do locally when it's happening everywhere. That's an issue. It's also sinking as sea levels rise. So when I say you don't have to rush, the good news is there are these really fascinating engineering feats that have been both undertaken and are being tested that are a very helpful Band-Aid in this moment. Krista Bo 00:04:47 So let's talk about the Mose first. What is that? Erica Hill 00:04:49 So the Mose, my accent is probably terrible, but Mose is Italian for Moses. It's an acronym for these 78 gates that live on the lagoon floor. And when the water is forecast to hit a certain level, usually 110 centimeters or more, so it's gonna flood the city, they raise the gates and it cuts off the lagoon from the historic city center of Venice. So it keeps the water from coming in. It's also ridiculously expensive. Estimates are it was about $6 billion to build. Took decades to get in place. And the reality is you can't use it forever. Krista Bo 00:05:21 So are there any other solutions that are being tested? Erica Hill 00:05:25 Yes! And we are fascinated by this one. And we looked at this in the documentary. We spoke with one of the gentlemen behind this idea, Pietro Tattini. And it's to inject saline water under the city, essentially, and that would raise the city. It would be, the idea right now is to take maybe like a six mile circle, if you will, and drill very deep wells so that you're using the seawater, and then you would slowly be filling them up. And as this happens, you're raising up this whole land mass slowly at once so that it doesn't crack. And they estimate that that could, first of all, it's way cheaper than the Mose. But if they do it correctly, they think they could raise it as much as 30 centimeters or so, which is about a foot. And that's about what Venice has lost in the last, I think it's the last hundred years or so. Krista Bo 00:06:15 Wow. So the titlenis called "Saving Venice." Can Venice be saved? Erica Hill 00:06:19 You'll have to watch to find out! I can't reveal all my secrets! Krista Bo 00:06:24 All right! Fair enough. Thank you so much for joining, Erica. Be sure to check out her full report on The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper, Sunday, May 11th at 8 p.m. Eastern on CNN. Thank you again. Erica Hill 00:06:34 Grazie mille. Krista Bo 00:06:37 'From abandoned to adored, a scruffy dog living on the streets of Austin, Texas has a new home, after residents of an assisted living facility decided to rescue him together. Before Chewie first arrived at The Philomena in Kyle, Texas, an employee at the time spotted him on the street back in January, fostered him for the night, and brought him to work the next morning. The center's executive director, Priscilla Duran, said the seven-year-old Shih Tzu was in rough shape. Priscilla Duran 00:07:03 His fur was very overgrown. He had a lot of matted fur even after three baths. He still was really smelly and he just, he had no light in his eyes. He was pretty shut down. Krista Bo 00:07:16 Priscilla says they took him to the vet to scan for a microchip, called his former owner, and were told that he didn't want his dog back. So the senior residents and the staff came together and made a big decision. Priscilla Duran 00:07:27 So we need to agree that we're all doing this together, that he is The Philomena's dog, he just goes home with me at night. He felt his purpose here at the building. And that's when we decided that he was gonna be the community dog and we're all gonna take him on as ours. He was gonna become everybody's. Krista Bo 00:07:42 Chewy's been there for over three months and can't wait to get to work every day to greet residents. He plays fetch, rides on walkers, and comforts hospice patients with quiet cuddles. Priscilla said Chewy is training to become a certified therapy dog, but he's already gotten a lot of practice. Priscilla Duran 00:08:00 So he has that diverse ability to be the fun and joy and goofy to make you laugh. But he also has that ability to be still and present and just be a comfort to somebody who just needs that. And so he's just become this little joyful bow tie wearing force of light. Krista Bo 00:08:20 Did you get a chance to thank a teacher last week? It was Teacher Appreciation Week, which celebrates nearly four million teachers across the country. Students at Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, Pennsylvania got started a little early. Student 1 00:08:34 Ms. Crosson was a huge part of who I am professionally. Student 2 00:08:39 She taught me a lot about finding your own identity and finding your passion with things. Student 3 00:08:43 I think she's really good at posing you with questions that kind of make you think about life more. Krista Bo 00:08:49 They spoke with CBS Mornings recently about their teacher Ashlie Crosson after she won the National Teacher of the Year Award. It's a pretty prestigious honor and it goes to an educator with an exceptional commitment to their students and the craft. Ashlie Crosson 00:09:02 My significant other was in the living room whenever I got the phone call. And so there's a video of me just saying absolutely nothing for like 45 seconds. I couldn't imagine this is where it would go. But that's the thing about any teacher who goes through this process. Like, we're not really used to a spotlight. Our natural demeanor is to push a spotlight onto students. Krista Bo 00:09:21 Ashley's been a teacher for 14 years, and she came back to her rural hometown in 2020 to teach English and electives like journalism at Mifflin. Ashlie Crosson 00:09:30 I wanted to come back and give back to what I've very affectionately referred to as the community that raised me. And so I felt like I could come back, and give to another generation of students. Krista Bo 00:09:43 She hopes that she's able to offer skills to her students that are more than just how to write or read better. Ashlie Crosson 00:09:49 I want them to know that it's okay to struggle, that it is okay not to have the answer, that it's ok to be really excited about some things and really trepidatious about other things. Like, coming into your education as a whole is also like, how do I be a better human? How do I live a life that feels authentic to me and feels like I'm putting good into the world? I see the best of humanity every day in students. Ifeoma Dike 00:10:18 I just wanted to give my mom a shout out. Sharon Diorsay 00:10:20 And the best advice I ever got from my mother was... Adrian Thompson 00:10:25 So, my mother has given me a lot of advice over the course of the year. Krista Bo 00:10:29 We asked you to share the best advice your mom has given you and you delivered. We'll be right back with all the wisdom. Krista Bo 00:10:37 Moms are just the best, aren't they? And we're celebrating Mother's Day by sharing their wisdom. For me, it's so hard to boil it down, but something kind of funny my mom Patricia taught me that stuck with me is that it's best to go grocery shopping at night. No lines at the deli, you don't have to fight for a parking spot. The place is like basically to yourself. And it was just such a fun adventure to go with her growing up. So thanks, Mom. Now I'll turn the mic over to you guys, our lovely listeners. Here's some of the best mom wisdom you shared with us. Eryn Mathewson 00:11:12 'Thanks, Krista. So it's hard to choose just one piece of advice that my mom has given me, but I would say the one that stands out is that she always told me to send thank you cards after I receive gifts - birthdays, graduation, Christmas. She always wanted to make sure that I shared that I was grateful that people thought enough of me to send me a gift. And I have not forgotten that and I try to do it to this day. Coreen 00:11:36 Hi, my name is Coreen. The best advice my mom ever gave me was take one day at a time. And if one day is too much to handle, take one hour at a time. McKinley Williams 00:11:48 My mother was a very, very kind woman and what I loved about her were some of her stories that she shared. My mother served during World War II in a segregated unit. She often had bitter feelings about her experience but never really complained about it. And she would always say: never had less, never felt better. And that really became something that I strived for. Count your blessings and not your worries. Alicia Yaffe 00:12:17 When I think about it, it was less about what she said and more about what did, right? Like she encouraged our passions. She showed up at our sports games. She, you know, teaches us that chocolate can solve most problems. So thanks, mom. Jason Ravin 00:12:34 My name is Jason Ravin. Best advice she could have given us was no advice at all, but instead to just give us values to abide ourselves by. Ifeoma Dike 00:12:44 Hi everybody, this is Ifeoma and I am calling to give my mom a shout out. Here's some of the things that she shared with me over the years: as you cook, you clean. Meekness is not weakness, so have a forgiving heart. Go to bed on time so you're well rested in the morning. And never settle for less than God's best. Love my mommy. Krista Bo 00:13:10 Thanks again to everyone who sent a voice memo, and happy Mother's Day. Krista Bo 00:13:17 All right, that's all for now. Join us tomorrow for the next edition of One Thing that breaks down how the situation at Newark Liberty International Airport got so out of control lately. Krista Bo 00:13:27 Five Good Things is a production of CNN Audio. This episode was produced by Eryn Mathewson and me, Krista Bo. Our senior producers are Felicia Patinkin and Faiz Jamil. Matt Dempsey is our production manager. Dan Dzula is our technical director and Steve Lichteig is the executive producer of CNN Audio. We get support from Joey Salvia, Haley Thomas, Alex Manasseri, Robert Mathers, Jon Dianora, Leni Steinhardt, Jamus Andrest, Nichole Pesarru, and Lisa Namerow. Special thanks to Wendy Brundige. And thank you for listening. Take care, til next time.
