On his first trip abroad, Pope Leo XIV last week went to Türkiye, a Muslim country with a small Christian minority in a challenged situation, and to Lebanon, which is mainly a Muslim country, but with a sizeable number of Christians belonging to different denominations, about one third of the country’s population, and a defined role in the ruling of the state. Lebanon has a long conflict with Israel, especially near the border in the south.

When the Pope arrived in Türkiye, some international media quickly saw the trip as quite political, maybe more than religious. The fact that he spoke in his native American-English, not in Italian as is usual, the sound of it all may have contributed to it. And in Lebanon, he also used French and some Arabic, the latter the official language of the country, while French is much used and semi-official in the former French protectorate.

From the Vatican’s side, the long-planned visit had clear intentions for contributing to a much needed inter-religious dialogues in the world, between Christians and Muslims, as well as a broader ecumenical dialogue between groups within Christianity and Islam, and also other religions. A more deliberate openness to and inclusiveness to all faithful seems to be a trademark and symbol of Pope Leo‘s papacy, as it was for his predecessor, Pope Francis II, in a world where there is a need for more dialogue and cooperation at a time with many wars and conflicts, several with religious causes and dimensions, but with less action than there should be from religious leaders and believers towards peace and understanding.

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All religions are meant to work for peace, justice, and have the concern and care for the poor, needy and oppressed. Original Islam stresses the openness to and inclusion of believers........

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