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Pope Leo XIV arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Photo: Alessandra Tarantino/AP/dpa
Keystone
Pope Leo XIV has spoken out in favour of international organizations such as the United Nations. At a reception for ambassadors in the Vatican, the head of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide spoke of "spaces of encounter and mediation", which are indispensable at this time, in view of the current wars and conflicts around the world.
"These institutions remain indispensable instruments for resolving disputes and promoting cooperation."
The US pope thus once again took a stand against US President Donald Trump, under whose leadership the United States has withdrawn all or part of its support for various international organizations. Trump had also recently criticized Leo XIV personally on several occasions. The Pope did not accept an invitation to come to his home country on the 250th anniversary of US independence on July 4. On that day, he will visit the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa, where many refugees from Africa are arriving.
The first pontiff from the USA also reiterated some fundamental criticism at the reception. Without naming countries or individuals, Leo said: "No nation, no society and no international order can call itself just and humane if it measures its success solely in terms of power or wealth and neglects those who live on the margins of society." The 70-year-old has been in office since May last year as the successor to the late Pope Francis.
21.05.2026, 11:39
