As Africa trip ends, Leo talks migration, economic prosperity

The Pontiff spoke with reporters on the papal flight back to Rome from Malambo, Equatorial Guinea on April 23, at the conclusion of an 11-day tour that included visits to Algeria, Angola and Cameroon.  

Pope Leo answered questions on migration, LGBTQ+ issues, war and the Holy See’s relations with nations with authoritarian leaders.

Speaking about global migration, Pope Leo said countries can enact laws to govern their borders, while adding that he is not in favour of people coming in “with no organisation, creating situations oftentimes more unjust in the places they come than in those that they left”.

“Having said this, I ask what will we do in the richest countries to change the situation in the poorest countries?” he said, and suggested that large, wealthy, multinational companies make investments in poorer nations such as the ones he visited, so the people live in better conditions.

“Africa for many people is considered a place where you can come to take out minerals, take out its riches, for the enrichment of others in other countries,” he said.

He suggested that “at the global level we must work much harder to promote greater justice and equality in the development of these countries of Africa so that they don’t need to migrate to Spain, etc.”

Asked about the LGBTQ+ issue and the apparent decision of Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising to approve guidelines for the blessing of same-sex couples in his diocese, Pope Leo called the topic divisive and said there are more important issues at stake such as justice, equality, the freedom of men and women, freedom of religion, “that would all take priority over that particular issue”.

He said the Holy See has already made it clear to the German bishops that there should be no formalised blessing of same-sex couples, beyond Pope Francis’ allowance for the blessing of them as individuals, in the sense that “all people receive blessings”.

Speaking with the reporters, Pope Leo defended the Holy See’s engagement of authoritarian regimes as necessary for improving social conditions. The Pope also condemned capital punishment, including state executions taking place in Iran, and voiced his hope that all parties involved in the Iran war would “seek and put all their efforts into seeking peace”.

FULL STORY

On way back to Rome, Pope Leo condemns state executions in Iran (By Elise Ann Allen/CruxNow)

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