Pope Leão XIV Calls for US–Iran Talks and Condemns Migrant Abuse After Africa Trip

Overview

• Leão XIV, speaking to reporters on the papal plane Thursday after an 11‑day tour of four African countries, urged the United States and Iran to restart negotiations to end the war and criticized the death penalty.
• He said migrants and refugees are often treated "worse than pets or animals" and pressed rich nations to help develop countries of origin so fewer people feel forced to leave.
• The pope said he carries a photo of a Lebanese boy killed in the war as he calls for the protection of civilians and states he cannot be in favor of war.
• Defending ties with authoritarian governments he met in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, including Paul Biya and Teodoro Obiang Nguema, he said Vatican relations enable quiet work on justice and humanitarian cases.
• His trip also sparked a brief clash with President Donald Trump, who called him "weak" and posted an AI-generated image that was later removed, after which coverage returned to the pope’s Africa-focused appeals.