Pope Leo's African Tour Takes a Messy Turn During Scout Greeting
Pope Leo was left grimacing after a well-meaning greeting with a young scout turned unexpectedly messy during his tour of Africa. The pontiff recoiled slightly after shaking hands with the boy, who had been planting an olive tree, leaving his hands smeared with dirt.
Symbolic Ceremony in Ancient Hippo
The moment unfolded at the ancient site of Hippo in the seaport city of Annaba, Algeria, where Leo had stopped to meet local youth groups and mark a symbolic tree-planting ceremony. He was seen looking down at his mud-covered hands before turning to aides, as nearby clergy appeared amused by the mishap.
Still dressed head-to-toe in white, Leo later reached out for assistance while those around him smiled at the unexpected break from the otherwise formal visit. The light-hearted incident provided a human touch to his 11-day tour of Africa, which began in Algeria and will take in Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea.
Promoting Peace and Unity
Leo is in the region to promote Christian-Muslim coexistence and honour St Augustine, the locally born theologian who helped shape his spiritual outlook. His tour calls for peace and greater unity, contrasting with recent tensions in global politics.
Background of Political Tensions
The muddy handshake comes after a tense war of words with former US President Donald Trump, who criticised the Pope over his stance on global conflicts. Trump lashed out at Pope Leo over his remarks opposing the war in Iran in a late-night post to his Truth Social page on Tuesday.
Pope Leo XIV has been vocally critical of the joint US-Israeli strikes in Iran, prompting Trump to hit back and suggest that the US-born pontiff stay out of politics. In his post, Trump wrote, 'Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable.'
Geopolitical Context: Strait of Hormuz Blockade
His repudiation of the pope came as the US military announced that a military blockade of the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway has been 'fully implemented,' leaving trade coming into and out of Iran 'completely halted,' officials said Tuesday night.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, made the announcement on X amid reports that a Chinese tanker and another vessel were forced to make U-turns after passing through the Strait, through which one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes.
Oil tanker Rich Starry is owned by Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd. and became a target for US sanctions because it was used to transport Iranian crude. After circling the area late on Monday and initially turning back, the 600ft long vessel passed through the waterway on Tuesday. It then turned around and headed back to the Gulf at 11am UTC.
Rich Starry is a medium-range tanker that is carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol, according to the data. It loaded the cargo at its last port of call, the UAE's Hamriyah, the data showed. Meanwhile, the Iran-linked Christianna carried out a similar route, passing through the Strait of Hormuz before turning around just before 4pm in the UK.
Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts
But US officials are now said to be gearing up for a second round of peace talks with their Iranian counterparts in Pakistan, with Vice President JD Vance reportedly set to lead the negotiations once again. This diplomatic push underscores the complex backdrop against which Pope Leo's tour is taking place, highlighting the intersection of religion, politics, and international relations.
