Pope Leo gives ‘unsettling’ five-word statement when asked to send message to the United States
Pope Leo has just been chosen to take over from Pope Francis, making history as the first American to ever become pope. During his first news conference on May 12, he spoke to reporters and touched on how the Church should interact with the media and the world.
He didn’t speak for long, but what he said made a strong impression. He emphasized that the way people talk to each other especially through the media is incredibly important.
He warned against using harsh, aggressive language and urged everyone to reject communication that’s full of anger, bias, and hate. Instead, he called for a softer, more thoughtful way of speaking one that listens and lifts up those who usually aren’t heard.
While Pope Leo didn’t name anyone directly, many people thought he might have been referring to former President Donald Trump, who is known for his outspoken and sometimes controversial use of social media. In fact, Trump recently suggested that his influence might have helped Pope Leo get elected, posting about it on his platform, Truth Social.
When a reporter asked Pope Leo if he had a message specifically for the United States, he responded with just five words: “Many. God bless you all.”
Those simple words stirred up a lot of conversation online. Some people found them strangely powerful, even unsettling. One person called it “the most menacing thing I’ve seen a Pope say,” while another said it felt more like a warning than a blessing. People were surprised that such a short sentence could carry so much weight.
Experts believe Pope Leo may approach politics, especially in relation to Trump, in a quiet but firm way. Professor Anna Rowlands, a theologian from the UK, described the new pope as calm, thoughtful, and the total opposite of Trump in terms of personality.
She believes Pope Leo will avoid direct confrontations but still find ways to challenge harmful ideas and push for meaningful conversations around peace, justice, and true human values. She doesn’t think he’ll rush to judge, but rather, will aim to have a sincere dialogue with the U.S. government.
