Pope Leo

Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Rome.

We must strongly reject the use of religion for justifying war, violence, or any form of fundamentalism or fanaticism.

You have an important place.

in both the present and future of the Mediterranean and of the whole world.

We hope to also announce, transmit and proclaim how important peace is throughout the world and to invite all people to come together to search for greater unity, greater harmony.

Jesus says very clearly at the end of the world, we're going to be asked, you know, how did you receive the foreigner?

Did you receive him and welcome him or not?

And I think that there's a deep reflection that needs to be made in terms of what's happening.

Many people who've lived for years and years and years never causing problems have been deeply affected by what's going on right now.

Pope Leo spoke to a group of reporters just outside Rome and expressed concern about the mass arrests and deportations taking place in the United States under the Trump administration.

To underscore his point, Leo referred to a passage from the Gospel of Matthew heard in many Catholic churches recently.

Jesus says very clearly at the end of the world, we're going to be asked, how did you receive the foreigner?

Did you receive him and welcome him or not?

The pope was specifically responding to immigration authorities not allowing migrants arrested in Chicago to receive Holy Communion.

Jason DeRose, NPR News.

TO ME, HE'S MY LITTLE BROTHER. IF I GET TO SEE HIM AGAIN, I'M GOING TO TREAT HIM LIKE I TREAT MY LITTLE BROTHER, UNTIL SOMEBODY SLAPS ME AND SAYS, YOU CAN'T TALK TO THE POPE LIKE THAT. HE'S NOT THE POPE. HE'S MY BROTHER. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY TO HIM, LOUIS? I'M GOING TO SAY, I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

TO ME, HE'S MY LITTLE BROTHER. IF I GET TO SEE HIM AGAIN, I'M GOING TO TREAT HIM LIKE I TREAT MY LITTLE BROTHER, UNTIL SOMEBODY SLAPS ME AND SAYS, YOU CAN'T TALK TO THE POPE LIKE THAT. HE'S NOT THE POPE. HE'S MY BROTHER. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY TO HIM, LOUIS? I'M GOING TO SAY, I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

TO ME, HE'S MY LITTLE BROTHER. IF I GET TO SEE HIM AGAIN, I'M GOING TO TREAT HIM LIKE I TREAT MY LITTLE BROTHER, UNTIL SOMEBODY SLAPS ME AND SAYS, YOU CAN'T TALK TO THE POPE LIKE THAT. HE'S NOT THE POPE. HE'S MY BROTHER. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY TO HIM, LOUIS? I'M GOING TO SAY, I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

Watching him on the balcony and he started to do his initial prayer and speech to the crowd out there. in Italian and I thought, I'm not sure what he's saying. Then he switched to Spanish and I thought, quit showing off, you little jerk.

Watching him on the balcony and he started to do his initial prayer and speech to the crowd out there. in Italian and I thought, I'm not sure what he's saying. Then he switched to Spanish and I thought, quit showing off, you little jerk.