Why Pope Leo XIV’s message of peace and unity resonates in the Middle East

Special Why Pope Leo XIV’s message of peace and unity resonates in the Middle East
The name suggests Pope Leo XIV may seek to to engage with today’s global inequalities and the disruptive forces of technology. (AFP)
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Updated 12 June 2025
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Why Pope Leo XIV’s message of peace and unity resonates in the Middle East

Why Pope Leo XIV’s message of peace and unity resonates in the Middle East
  • New pontiff opened his papacy with a plea for global dialogue, striking a chord in a conflict-torn region
  • Leo’s migrant roots have helped shape a worldview welcomed by Catholic communities of the Arabian Peninsula

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.




Leo is a reference to Pope Leo XIII, remembered as the pope of Catholic social teaching. (AFP)

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.




Prevost, 69,  election surprised much of the church hierarchy and media. (AFP)

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.

BIO

Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, Leo is the first North American pope.

• Chose name ‘Leo’ in tribute to Leo XIII, signaling a focus on workers’ rights.

• Former missionary in Latin America, bringing inclusive outlook to papacy.

“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.”




The opening moments of Leo’s pontificate paint a clear picture of continuity with his predecessor. (AFP)

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.”




The secrecy and discernment of the Conclave delivered a choice that defied predictions. (AFP)

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.




Leo has delivered repeated appeals for peace, both in public appearances and private meetings. (AFP)

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.

 


Pro-Palestinian activists say they damaged planes at UK military base

Pro-Palestinian activists say they damaged planes at UK military base
Updated 3 sec ago
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Pro-Palestinian activists say they damaged planes at UK military base

Pro-Palestinian activists say they damaged planes at UK military base
  • Campaign group Palestine Action said that its activists had entered the Brize Norton base in Oxfordshire and escaped undetected
LONDON: Pro-Palestinian activists in Britain said they had broken into a Royal Air Force base in central England on Friday and damaged two military aircraft.
The campaign group Palestine Action said that its activists had entered the Brize Norton base in Oxfordshire and escaped undetected.
“Flights depart daily from the base to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus,” the group said on X accompanied by video footage. “From Cyprus, British planes collect intelligence, refuel fighter jets and transport weapons to commit genocide in Gaza.”
There was no immediate response from Britain’s Ministry of Defense.

Kremlin says Middle East is plunging into ‘abyss of instability and war’

Kremlin says Middle East is plunging into ‘abyss of instability and war’
Updated 8 min 48 sec ago
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Kremlin says Middle East is plunging into ‘abyss of instability and war’

Kremlin says Middle East is plunging into ‘abyss of instability and war’
  • Asked on Friday if Russia had any red lines when it came to the situation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that countries in the region should have their own red lines

ST PETERSBURG:The Kremlin said on Friday that the Middle East was plunging into “an abyss of instability and war” and that Moscow was worried by events and still stood ready to mediate if needed.
Russia, which has close ties with Iran, and also maintains close links to Israel, has urged the US not to strike Iran and has called for a diplomatic solution to the crisis around Tehran’s nuclear program to be found.
Asked on Friday if Russia had any red lines when it came to the situation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that countries in the region should have their own red lines.
“The region is plunging into an abyss of instability and war,” Peskov said.
Moscow sees that Israel wants to continue its military action against Iran for now, but Russia has lines of communication open with Israel and the US, Peskov added.


Russian strikes on Odesa kill one, wound at least 13

Russian strikes on Odesa kill one, wound at least 13
Updated 17 min 16 sec ago
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Russian strikes on Odesa kill one, wound at least 13

Russian strikes on Odesa kill one, wound at least 13

ODESA: One person was killed and more than a dozen others were wounded in Russia’s latest aerial attack on Ukraine, which targeted the southern port city of Odesa, officials said on Friday.
Emergency services published images of firefighters helping a woman in pyjamas climb from the window of a housing block in flames.
Both Moscow and Kyiv have stepped up their drone and missile attacks after three years of war and peace talks initiated by the United States appear closer to collapse.
Ukrainian police said one person was killed and 13 were wounded in Odesa, including three rescue workers who were hurt at the scene of the attack.
“Residential buildings, higher education institutions, civilian infrastructure and transport were damaged by the strike,” said Oleg Kiper, the governor of the Black Sea region.
The Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched 86 drones in the barrage and that 70 had been downed by air defense systems.
The Russian defense ministry, meanwhile, said its forces had eliminated at least 61 Ukrainian drones.
Odesa, one of Ukraine’s largest port cities and a UNESCO heritage site, has been under persistent Russian attacks since Moscow invaded its neighbor early in 2022.


In Uganda, a tougher bicycle offers hope for better health coverage in rural areas

In Uganda, a tougher bicycle offers hope for better health coverage in rural areas
Updated 37 min 24 sec ago
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In Uganda, a tougher bicycle offers hope for better health coverage in rural areas

In Uganda, a tougher bicycle offers hope for better health coverage in rural areas
  • World Bicycle Relief, a Chicago based nonprofit, promotes the Buffalo Bicycle in remote parts of Africa
  • It collaborates with governments, NGOs and others who use the bikes to improve access to health services

LIRA: The bicycle parked in Lucy Abalo’s compound doesn’t belong to her. Any one of the hundreds of people in her village can show up and ask to use it.
A man might wish to take his pregnant wife for a checkup. A woman might need transport to pick up HIV medication. An injured child might need a trip to a hospital.
“The goodness about this bike,” Abalo said, is its availability to all.
She is one of dozens of “village doctors” in rural Uganda who recently were supplied with the Buffalo Bicycle, so called because its steel parts are reinforced to perform in areas with bad roads.
World Bicycle Relief, a Chicago-based nonprofit, promotes the Buffalo Bicycle in remote parts of Africa. It collaborates with governments, non-governmental groups and others who use the bikes to improve access to health services.
In Uganda, an east African country of 45 million people, efforts to market the bicycle have focused on supporting health workers like Abalo, who visits people’s homes and reports any issues to authorities.
As a community health extension worker, or CHEW, she has gained the trust of villagers, who can knock on her door in emergency situations. She said she helps to look after about 8,000 people in the area.
And at least twice a week, she is required to report to a government-run health center about 5 kilometers (3 miles) away and assist with triaging patients.
Ugandan health authorities acknowledge that one challenge for CHEWs is transportation, part of a larger burden of poverty that can leave health facilities lacking ambulances or even gas to move them.
World Bicycle Relief, operating locally as Buffalo Bicycles Uganda, has collaborated with Ugandan health authorities since 2023 to equip 331 CHEWs in two of the country’s 146 districts. One is Lira, 442 kilometers (274 miles) north of the capital, Kampala.
Bicycles have long been ubiquitous, and many families tend to have one. Cultural norms in northern Uganda don’t prohibit women from riding. While the roads in Lira town are paved, dirt paths lead into the heart of the district where farming is the main economic activity.
The Buffalo Bicycle is a recent arrival. Many have never heard of it, or can’t afford it. Retailing for roughly $200, it is three times more expensive than the cheapest regular bicycle — otherwise out of reach for many CHEWs, who do not yet earn a salary.
The bike’s promoters cite its durability in rough terrain, needing fewer trips to the mechanic as a way to save money.
The Buffalo Bicycle’s heavy-gauge steel frame is so strong that it comes with a five-year warranty, said Amuza Ali, a monitoring officer in Lira for Buffalo Bicycles Uganda.
Abalo and others told the AP the Buffalo Bicycle felt uncomfortable to use in the beginning, with a braking system that doesn’t permit carefree backpedaling.
“When I climbed on it, it wasn’t that easy as I thought,” Abalo said. “I was like, ‘I am trying again to learn how to ride.’”
CHEWs using the bicycles reported a 108 percent increase in households reached each week, and the time to reach health facilities dropped by nearly half, according to a study published in May by World Bicycle Relief.
The study shows that “mobility is not a luxury in health care” but a lifeline, CEO Dave Neiswander said in a statement released for the report.
Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health, has urged the distribution of bicycles to more CHEWs across Uganda, saying front-line health workers save an unknown number of lives each year.
Abalo received her Buffalo Bicycle from the health minister last year.
One of her neighbors, Babra Akello, said she has used the bicycle at least six times already. The first was for transport to an antenatal checkup. She praised Abalo’s willingness to help.
The bike has also been used for emergencies. One evening earlier this year, a neighbor’s 4-year-old child suffered a deep cut while playing in the dirt. With the child’s parents away, Abalo transported the bleeding boy to a facility where he briefly lost consciousness before being revived.
“That bike, not me, saved the life of that child,” Abalo said. “If that bike hadn’t been there, I don’t know what would have happened.”


All of BTS has returned as Suga is discharged from an alternative form of military service

All of BTS has returned as Suga is discharged from an alternative form of military service
Updated 20 June 2025
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All of BTS has returned as Suga is discharged from an alternative form of military service

All of BTS has returned as Suga is discharged from an alternative form of military service
  • The label has confirmed that Suga completed his alternative service duties on Wednesday after using up his remaining leave
  • The seven singers of the popular K-pop band plan to reunite as a group sometime in 2025 now that they’ve finished their service

SEOUL: Suga, a rapper and songwriter in the global K-pop sensation BTS, has been discharged from South Korea’s mandatory military service, marking the official return of all seven members from their enlistment duties.
The label confirmed that Suga completed his alternative service duties on Wednesday after using up his remaining leave. His official discharge date is Saturday.
BTS’ management agency, Big Hit Entertainment, had said earlier that no events were planned for Suga’s release out of concern for overcrowding.
It is a momentous occasion for fans of the K-pop group BTS. The seven singers of the popular K-pop band plan to reunite as a group sometime in 2025 now that they’ve finished their service.
Last week, BTS superstars RM and V were discharged from South Korea’s military after fulfilling their mandatory service. Jimin and Jung Kook were discharged a day later. All four were enlisted in December 2023.
Six of the group’s seven members served in the army, while Suga fulfilled his duty as a social service agent, an alternative form of military service.
Jin, the oldest BTS member, was discharged in June 2024. J-Hope was discharged in October.
In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 are required by law to perform 18-21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea.
The law gives special exemptions to athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers if they have obtained top prizes in certain competitions and are assessed to have enhanced national prestige. K-pop stars and other entertainers aren’t subject to such privileges.
However, in 2020, BTS postponed their service until age 30 after South Korea’s National Assembly revised its Military Service Act, allowing K-pop stars to delay their enlistment until age 30.
There was heated public debate in 2022 over whether to offer special exemptions of mandatory military service for BTS members, until the group’s management agency announced in October 2022 that all seven members would fulfill their duties.