Pope Leo condemns rise of nationalist politics, urges unity in Pentecost address

Pope Leo, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, spoke out on Sunday against the growing tide of nationalist politics, calling such movements “unfortunate” during a Pentecost Mass attended by tens of thousands in St. Peter’s Square. 

While he did not name any specific nations or leaders, his comments were clearly pointed.

In his homily, Leo prayed for divine intervention to “open borders, break down walls [and] dispel hatred,” warning against the divisive mindset that nationalism often promotes.

“There is no place for prejudice, for ‘security’ zones that separate us from our neighbors, or for the exclusionary mentality that is, sadly, gaining ground in today’s political nationalisms,” the pope said.

Elected on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis, Leo—formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost—now leads the Church’s 1.4 billion global followers.

Prior to his election, Prevost had publicly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, including sharing multiple social media posts expressing disapproval of both Trump and Vice President JD Vance. While a Twitter account under the name @drprevost was active before his election, it was deactivated shortly afterward, and the Vatican has not confirmed its ownership.

Pope Francis, who led the Church for 12 years, was known for his outspoken opposition to Trump’s immigration policies. In January, shortly before his death, Francis condemned Trump’s proposed mass deportations as “a disgrace.” He had previously criticized the then-candidate in 2016, saying, “A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.”

Sunday’s Mass marked the celebration of Pentecost, one of Christianity’s most sacred feasts, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. Pope Leo used the occasion to renew the Vatican’s call for compassion, inclusion, and unity in the face of growing global division.