Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Nov 26 (AP) Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday that Thanksgiving was a "beautiful feast" that unites believers and non-believers alike, as he issued a message of thanks ahead of the US holiday.
Leo said he was thankful for many things and urged everyone to recognise the gifts they have been given. "First and foremost, the gift of life. The gift of the faith. The gift of unity," he said.
He was responding to reporters' questions Tuesday night as he left Castel Gandolfo, where he goes on Mondays and Tuesdays for a rest and to play tennis.
He described Thanksgiving as "this beautiful feast that we have in the United States, which unites all people — people of different faiths, people who perhaps do not have the gift of faith" to say thank you to someone.
Leo will spend his first Thanksgiving as pope in Turkey on his first foreign trip.
This report includes content sourced from Press Trust of India (PTI), edited for clarity and context.
