'God opens border': Pope Leo rejects ‘exclusionary mindset’ of nationalists. Is Trump the target?

The new sovereign of the Vatican, Pope Leo, has condemned the emergence of nationalist political movements and their “exclusionary mindset”, without naming a specific leader of a country, with many wondering if he was calling out the country he is from, the United States. It is pertinent to note that Leo was the first American Pope.

The remarks from the head of the Vatican came during a mass on Sunday, when thousands gathered at St Peter’s Square. During the mass, the Pope emphasised that God “opens borders, breaks down walls [and] dispels 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,” he said.

More from World

Shashi Tharoor-led delegation meets JD Vance for talks over Op Sindoor, assured US support Is social unrest brewing in China amid slowdown? Internet filled with angry posts toward elites

Pope Leo calls for more openness

The pontiff insisted that the church “must open the borders between peoples and break down the barriers between class and race”. “People must move beyond our fear of those who are different,” he explained, adding that the Holy Spirit “breaks down barriers and tears down the walls of indifference and hatred”.

Pope Leo, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected as the Vatican sovereign on May 8. He succeeded the late Pope Francis as leader of the 1.4 billion-member church. Before he was elected to the post, Prevost was open with his criticism of US President Donald Trump.

He often shares several disapproving posts about the US president and vice president, JD Vance, on X in recent years. However, it is pertinent to note that the Vatican never confirmed the pope’s ownership of the X account, which had the handle @drprevost. Interestingly, the X handle was instantly deactivated after the Pope was elected.

Pope Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, who served in the post for 12 years, was also a sharp critic of Trump. In January this year, Pope Francis said that the president’s plan to deport millions of migrants in the US during his second term was a disgrace.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

Francis has often said that 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,” he said when asked about Trump in 2016.