Discreet diplomacy (always for peace)

A central theme this year has been diplomatic activism, carried out away from the spotlight, always for peace. A work 'behind the scenes', as he himself confided to journalists on his return flight from Lebanon, the destination with Turkey of his first apostolic journey: 'Our work is mainly not something public that we declare in the streets, it is a bit "behind the scenes". It is something that in fact we have already done and will continue to do in order to try, let's say, to convince the parties to leave the weapons, the violence, and come together to the table for dialogue'. In these statements by the Pontiff lies the key to so many initiatives launched in this first year of his pontificate, starting with the very first offer, just a few days after his election, to open the "Sacred Palaces" to make them the venue for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. A proposal that met with Russian scepticism and Ukrainian enthusiasm, expressed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, the latter of whom the Pope met three times. Two of which at Castel Gandolfo, where - after twelve years - Leo returned to his summer residence, leaving the Papal Palace as a museum centre open to the public and residing instead at Villa Barberini. A residence that became familiar to many journalists who met the Pontiff every Tuesday evening on their way out to collect his statements and observations on current issues. Or appeals, even quick ones, but always aimed at appealing to the "great of the world" so that they "end the war" and work for peace "not with weapons" but "with dialogue", or to stimulate action by the people, as when, in the aftermath of the US attack on Iran, he urged his US compatriots "to seek out how to communicate with the "congressmen", with the authorities, to say that we do not want war, we want peace!". An unprecedented action that stimulated the reaction of the United States administration with President Donald Trump arriving to harshly criticise the Pontiff on the very day he was embarking for Algeria, destination along with Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, of the longest apostolic journey so far (13-23 April). To this criticism the Pope, solicited by journalists on the plane, did not reply but responded by recalling his role and mission: that of "pastor" and not "politician". Hence "no debate" with Trump, nor "fear" of possible attacks from that administration, but only the mission of proclaiming the "message of the Gospel" which unfortunately some today abuse. Words reiterated recently again at Castel Gandolfo: 'The Church proclaims the Gospel, preaches peace. If someone wants to criticise me, do it with truth'.