Pope Leo Says He Has "Great Love" For US, But Doesn't Define Self As American
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, stated in an interview that while he holds a deep love for the United States, he views his role as a universal pastor. He discussed his commitment to migrant rights and his hope for a future visit to his home country.
Why it matters
The Pope's stance on his national identity versus his global religious mission provides insight into the Vatican's current geopolitical and social priorities.
Pope Leo XIV has "great love" for the United States and what it stands for, but doesn't define himself as American, the Chicago-born pope told NBC in an interview. Leo, the first pope from the United States, spoke Wednesday night to the US broadcaster on the sidelines of a prayer event with music at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence."I think of myself more as the pope who happens to be American. Not to belittle what it means to be an American," said the pope, when asked how important it was to him being American. "I have great love for America, but I understand my mission as having a very important dimension, which is precisely being pastor of a universal church and having a voice and an opportunity to speak to people throughout the world," added Leo, who spent nearly two decades as a missionary in Peru. Asked what the 70-year-old loved about…
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in