(MENAFN) Pope Leo XIV stated on Tuesday that the rise of Islamophobia across Europe is frequently driven by individuals or groups aiming to marginalize those who come from diverse religious or ethnic communities.

He emphasized that the long-standing coexistence between Christians and Muslims in Lebanon provides valuable insights for societies in Europe and North America, underscoring the importance of fostering authentic dialogue and mutual respect.

The pope concluded his inaugural official foreign journey—which included visits to Türkiye and Lebanon—and traveled back to Rome aboard a dedicated ITA Airways flight.

During his conversation with the journalists accompanying him, he reflected on the significance of the trip and commented on several global and regional matters.

When questioned about whether he would leverage his relationships with US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly in light of his recent statement that “Israel is our friend,” to help bring an end to Israel’s assaults on Lebanon and whether enduring peace in the region could be achieved, the pontiff responded: “First of all, yes, I believe that sustainable peace is possible. I have begun speaking to some of the leaders you mentioned, even in a very limited way, and I intend to continue doing so personally or through the Vatican.”

He added that he had also met in Lebanon with political figures linked to both domestic and international disputes.

According to the pope, much of the Vatican’s peace-related activity is conducted discreetly rather than publicly.

“Our work is essentially not something we announce publicly. It is more an activity we conduct behind the scenes. In fact, we were already doing this, and we will continue trying to persuade the parties to abandon weapons and violence, to sit at the table of dialogue, and to seek solutions that do not involve violence and could be more effective and better for the people,” he explained.

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