Pope Leo XIV’s return from his third international tour of Africa was no mere formality. Weary from 18 flights and 25 speeches, the Pontiff sat down with the press on the flight back to Rome to open, with unusual transparency, the “black box” of Vatican diplomacy and state his position on the burning issues on the global agenda: from African dictators to the migration crisis in the Canary Islands.

Face-to-face diplomacy: How does the Pope speak?

One of the biggest unknowns of this trip was Leo XIV’s coexistence with leaders who have been in power for decades under regimes of dubious democratic quality. How does the message of the Gospel reconcile with an official photograph alongside a dictator?

The Pope was clear: his trip is  pastoral , but his message is  political . As he explained, there are two paths. In public, his speeches maintain diplomacy, though always “hitting the nail on the head.” But it is in private meetings where the real work takes place: a face-to-face encounter without cameras where the Pope awakens consciences. “This isn’t working,” he tells them directly when speaking about the poverty or lack of healthcare among his people. This is the price the Church pays: allowing the “photo op” of the leader in exchange for advocating, in the privacy of the halls of power, for the future of the most vulnerable.

Migration: “Sometimes we treat them worse than animals”

With his sights set on his upcoming trip to  Spain  (Madrid, Barcelona, ​​and the Canary Islands), the Pope did not shy away from the polarization surrounding migration. While acknowledging the right of states to regulate their borders, he posed an uncomfortable question to the Global North:  “What are we, the rich countries, doing to change the situation in the rich lands of Africa that others are plundering? “

Leo XIV denounced the hypocrisy of multinational corporations that extract minerals from the Global South but close their doors to its young people. His most striking statement was a call for basic human dignity: he lamented that, at times, migrants are treated with less respect and care than domestic pets, reminding everyone that, above border laws, the status of being human prevails.

Blessings and Controversies: The Limit of Unity

The flight also served to distance the Pope from the more progressive wing of the German Church. When asked about Cardinal Marx’s decision to formally bless same-sex couples, the Pope remained firm in his adherence to the Holy See’s position.

Although he emphasized that  “everyone has the right to a blessing”  individually—recalling his predecessor’s famous “everyone, everyone, everyone”—he warned that formalizing these blessings for couples would create a dangerous division within the Church. It is a delicate balance: full acceptance of the individual, but respect for doctrine to avoid a rift with more conservative episcopates, such as those in Africa.

The future: Latin America on the horizon

What’s next for Leo XIV? Although Spain is the immediate destination, the Pope’s heart seems to be turning toward Latin America. He confirmed his interest in visiting  Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay —a long-standing debt that Francis has yet to settle. Furthermore, he left the door open to a stop in  Mexico  to visit the Virgin of Guadalupe during a possible trip to the United States in September.

For now, there are no confirmed dates, but the Pope’s message is clear: he will not remain in Rome watching the world fragment. His diplomacy, sometimes quiet and sometimes decisive, continues to reach out to the peripheries.