Pontiff establishing key stances early in tenure

[0:00] All right, Pope Leo reacting this morning to a renewed push by the Trump administration to bring back firing squads in federal executions. [0:07] The pontiff condemning the death penalty in a video message to Chicago's DePaul University students. [0:12] His comments follow a historic 11-day papal trip through Africa, visiting Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and the equatorial Guinea. [0:22] Pope Leo promoting peace and the gospel and working to build bridges between Christians and Muslims. [0:27] This coming during a time of rising Catholicism across Africa and, of course, right here in America. [0:32] And ABC's Melissa Adan traveled with the Pope 11,000 miles. [0:37] You did such amazing work all across the world. [0:40] What do you take from this conversation this morning? [0:44] Gio, Pope Leo is on a roll, first of all. [0:46] His stamina was shown throughout this trip. [0:48] And then just now, right, immediately he knows he has the attention of the people around the world. [0:53] And so when he made this exact comment, this was for the state of Illinois because they're marking 15 years since they abolished the death penalty. [1:00] So he made that presentation to them saying he agrees with them. [1:03] And he says the Catholic Church also agrees. [1:05] They believe in human life from conception until natural death. [1:09] So that was really important there. [1:11] And this is a push he says he wants for everyone. [1:13] He wants the death penalty to be abolished really throughout the U.S. and the world. [1:19] And that has been a longstanding position by the Vatican, for sure. [1:25] Tell us about this particular mission and this particular trip, because this was an extraordinary journey. [1:31] I saw all of your videos. [1:32] Unbelievable to witness what was happening across Africa. [1:35] And it truly was. [1:36] It's extraordinary, Gio, especially because the countries we went to just were so different, right? [1:40] When we went to Algeria, 99 percent people there are Muslims. [1:44] So it was a really, really small Catholic population. [1:47] But that was the effort there. [1:48] He wants to make sure we can bridge Christians and Muslims living together. [1:52] That was important. [1:53] But then we go over to Cameroon. [1:54] They were in the middle of a civil war, but they had a ceasefire just for Pope Leo's visit. [1:59] It just goes to show how truly, you know, special it was for them because they finally had that world stage to ask for peace. [2:07] That is what they wanted there. [2:08] Every single country there. [2:09] When you looked at Angola and Equatorial Guinea, these are countries that are so rich in resources, yet the people live so poor. [2:16] And Pope Leo's mission there was to tell these other nations, you know, the superpowers around the world that you need to be giving back to these countries to support their own local people. [2:25] Otherwise, we're just going to be taking and taking from them and not making sure that there's any opportunity or growth for them. [2:31] So it was very, very eye-opening to see just how much need we need around the world and also what the Catholic Church can do to actually help. [2:40] Well, and that's one of the most striking things that you were telling us about, how much need is needed. [2:45] And you were able to witness that. [2:46] You were also able to witness this press conference that was happening there on the plane. [2:51] And there were so many huge topics that were discussed. [2:56] Of course, the Iran War and immigration. [2:58] We know that this trip started with those comments from President Trump, literally day one. [3:04] I don't think you were on the plane to Africa at that point. [3:07] What stood out to you from that press conference? [3:10] Absolutely. [3:10] You know, it was something on a lot of the journalists' minds because throughout the trip, we had asked Pope Leo what his reaction was to President Trump. [3:18] And at that point, he'd made it clear, look, he doesn't want to debate President Trump. [3:20] He has no interest in doing that. [3:22] He wants to focus on this trip. [3:23] So reporters actually asked him about the Iran War, his stance there. [3:27] He made it clear he does condemn also what Iran is doing, the killings and the deaths that they're doing of their innocent people. [3:33] You know, it was the same breath he also said about the people and the innocent lives that are killed in Gaza, right? [3:37] So he also brought that up, trying to promote peace in that regard. [3:41] And then it was interesting when he talked about immigration. [3:44] He did say, look, he believes that every state has a right to regulate their borders, meaning that he doesn't want people to just get into a country and there is no rules, that there needs to be a system and process because he doesn't want to create more chaos and problems. [3:58] And at the bottom line of it, Algeo, it goes back to where he was saying, if we can make countries, for instance, in Africa, safer, better, you know, increase their resources there, then it will lessen the likelihood of people wanting to immigrate and leave elsewhere. [4:14] And, you know, what's really interesting is that you were telling us about this rise in Catholicism there in Africa. [4:20] We are seeing that with young people here in America as well. [4:23] It's amazing. [4:25] You know, I got to speak to so many young people and it was so striking when I would ask them, well, why? [4:29] Why are you here? [4:30] Why do you? [4:30] And they were just so excited. [4:32] One girl told me, she's like, I like going to church with my friends. [4:35] It's something fun for us to do. [4:36] It was like as simple as that, you know? [4:38] And she's like, my grandmother, you know, was really happy that we were coming here to see the Pope. [4:42] And now I'm get to be here with all my friends. [4:44] Then I remember when we were in Cameroon specifically, because they're going on, you know, with separatists, they are in their own civil war between the government and separatists. [4:53] It was very eye-opening for a young person to say, well, if I believe in peace and this is the opportunity, then maybe this is what will help. [5:01] He was like, I, we need people around the world to pay attention to us. [5:05] And he looked at me and said, Melissa, do not forget about us. [5:09] Like, help us. [5:10] And you haven't, you are telling their stories. [5:13] Melissa, Dawn, excellent work. [5:14] Thank you so much.