LEILA FADEL, HOST:
For more on Pope Leo's Easter message, I'm joined by Christopher White. He's a former Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, now the associate director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University. Christopher, good morning and welcome to the program.
CHRISTOPHER WHITE: Good morning, Leila.
FADEL: So like many of his predecessors, Pope Leo used this as an opportunity to call for peace. What stood out to you the most?
WHITE: You know, I think throughout Holy Week, Pope Leo used his megaphone to beg for peace around the world at every opportunity. And what was so striking about his message yesterday was he pleaded for those who unleash wars to choose peace. And I think it was particularly effective to hear him use the words of Pope Francis to say the world has become indifferent to violence and that some people seem to have a thirst for death. This is pretty graphic and dramatic language, but, of course, consistent with what he's been saying since he was elected a year ago.
FADEL: You know, I think Ruth just hinted at this in her piece that we just listened to. I mean, the administration in the United States has really invoked God and Jesus a lot around this war with Iran. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth prays in press briefings about the war. At a Pentagon worship service, he prayed for, quote, "overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy." That's a quote. And then we hear this very different message from Pope Leo. Do you see that message as a direct response to the Trump administration using God, Jesus, Christianity in their language?
WHITE: Well, I think there can be no doubt that, as the religious rhetoric of the president and his administration officials have sort of ramped up in recent weeks, the Pope has been insistent that there is no religious justification for this war. I don't think he's looking for a direct conflict with President Trump or any world leader for that matter. But what I think, inevitably, what we're being offered is a very stark contrast. We have one world leader who's using his, you know, power to wage war and another who's sort of using a very quiet, humble style to sort of beg for peace.
FADEL: Now, the pope didn't specifically reference the war in Iran or President Trump by name. Is that purposeful, not to be so explicit?
WHITE: Of course. Popes traditionally do not name names. You know, the pope doesn't want to be seen as a partisan figure. But that being said, he wants his words to have political consequences. He wants world leaders to, in his words, you know, lay down weapons and pursue peace through dialogue. So again, not partisan, but he wants to have a political implication with what he has to say.
FADEL: Do you see a rising tension between Pope Leo and this U.S. administration and its actions?
WHITE: You know, roughly at the same time that the president of the United States was using social media to sort of threaten the destruction of Iran's bridges and power plants, and sort of using expletives and saying glory be to God, we had the pope standing in St. Peter's Square offering a message of peace. And specifically saying that the entire Easter message of Christ's resurrection is one of peace and nonviolence. You know, Pope Leo is not looking for conflict with anyone, particularly, you know, his homeland. But the fact that we do have an American pope speaking to the realities of a U.S.-led war certainly raises those stakes. And it's hard not to take notice of the two very different messages being offered.
FADEL: I mean, you mentioned this pope is from the United States, from Chicago. How much influence does this pope have on Christian communities in the U.S. and the pope generally?
WHITE: Well, I think the fact that even if you're not Catholic, you're sort of intrigued by the fact that the pope is from the United States. Yesterday, we heard him speaking predominantly in Italian. But when he speaks, he often does so in English. And he does so with a Midwestern, Chicago-style accent that is recognizable. And so that's someone that's relatable to a lot of Americans. And the fact that the two most sort of recognizable Americans on the world stage are the pope and the president with two very different visions of the world is something that is offering two different styles of leadership.
FADEL: Christopher White is the associate director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University. Thank you so much for your time.
WHITE: Thanks, Leila.
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