Pope: Fears that Islam threatens a Christian identity of the West are wrong

Pope Leo holds a painting gifted to him by a journalist aboard the papal plane. Photo: Vatican Media

During an onboard briefing on his return flight from Lebanon to Rome, Pope Leo XIV answered journalists’ questions about global affairs – including concerns over the threat to Europe’s Christian identity amid growing Islamization.

Responding to a question from La Croix about Europeans’ fears regarding Islam, the Pope said: “I know that in Europe there are many times fears that are present but oftentimes generated by people who are against immigration and trying to keep out people who may be from another country, another religion, another race.”

The pontiff noted that most of his conversations with Muslim leaders in Turkey and Lebanon centered on peace and mutual respect between followers of different faiths.

“And in that sense, I would say that we all need to work together, one of the values of this trip is precisely to raise the world’s attention to the possibility that dialogue and friendship between Muslims and Christians is possible,” the head of the Roman Catholic Church said.

As a positive example, he pointed to Lebanon, where Islam and Christianity, as he phrased it, “are both present and respected.” According to him, Europeans and North Americans should be “less fearful” and seek opportunities for dialogue and peaceful coexistence with Muslim migrants.

The Pope added that the lived experience of Christians and Muslims in the Middle East could serve as a lesson for Western nations.

As the UOJ reported earlier, the Pope visited the Blue Mosque in Istanbul – a symbol of Islam’s arrival in the empire.

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