Religion & belief fact checks

"Pope Leo XIV intentionally ignored an LGBTQ rainbow flag by looking the other way when he approached it," a viral post on X with more than 12 million views claims.

Publisher’s rating: False

The video shows Pope Leo XIV turning to the other side before the flag appears on screen. The flag is an Italian peace flag bearing the word “pace,” not an LGBTQ flag.

The Pope allegedly criticized US President Donald Trump in a video shared on TikTok and Instagram. "Trump, the immigration policies you've implemented are a blatant trampling on both the teachings of the church and the promises of the American dream." Pope Leo XIV allegedly said he firmly opposed everything Trump stands for.

Publisher’s rating: Fake

DW says the video was manipulated and that the Pope never made those statements. It reports that the original footage shows him speaking Italian to media representatives on May 12 and not mentioning Trump.

هل صرّح المفتي بأن من لا يختار حكومة الدبيبة يموت موتة الجاهلية؟

Publisher’s rating: مضلل

Pope Leo XIV deliberately turned away from an LGBTQ+ rainbow flag during a public appearance

Publisher’s rating: False

The review identifies the flag in the video as an Italian peace flag bearing “PACE,” not an LGBTQ+ Pride flag. It says the video provides no evidence that Pope Leo XIV deliberately avoided the flag.

Ustad Abdul Somad menganjurkan judi online

Publisher’s rating: Hoaks

Facebook video purporting to show a Catholic mass in Kaaba, Saudi Arabia

Publisher’s rating: Fake

Cette vidéo TikTok prétendant montrer le souverain pontife, le pape Léon XIV, exprimant son soutien au Président de la transition du Burkina Faso, le capitaine Ibrahim Traoré

Publisher’s rating: Altered

Ce post TikTok prétendant présenter la grande mosquée de Ouagadougou, au Burkina Faso

Publisher’s rating: False

O papa Leão XIV não teceu comentários sobre o presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), nem sobre Jair Bolsonaro (PL), durante orações ou discursos feitos após sua eleição como pontífice, ocorrida em 8 de maio. Não há registros disso na imprensa nacional e internacional e nem nos sites oficiais do Vaticano.

Publisher’s rating: Falso

The review says there are no records in national or international press of Pope Leo XIV making the alleged comments about Lula or Bolsonaro in speeches after his election. It reports that the viral posts claiming he praised Lula or cited Bolsonaro used AI narration and images.

(Video) Papa León XIV evitó la bandera LGBTIQ+: #Falso

Publisher’s rating: Falso

Video shows Indian Army Col. Sofiya Qureshi speaking about her religion.

Publisher’s rating: Fake

Ce post Threads prétendant que le Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa a été élu comme 267ème Pape de l’Église catholique

Publisher’s rating: False

طبق آمار نشر تمایل مخاطبان در سال‌های اخیر بیشتر معطوف به خرید کتاب‌های ادعیه و دینی است.

Publisher’s rating: نادرست

حوزه و مراجع هیچ‌گاه وابسته به دولت نبوده‌اند و کمک دولتی را نمی‌پذیرند.

Publisher’s rating: شاخ‌دار

post on X (formerly Twitter) with a video claiming to show the last “burial rites” of Pope Francis

Publisher’s rating: False

post on X (formerly Twitter) claiming that Cardinal Peter Turkson was declared the new Catholic pope

Publisher’s rating: False

Ce post TikTok prétendant montrer l’élection du successeur du pape François en 2025 comporte

Publisher’s rating: Missing Context

Headline said, “Pope Leo XIV was a founding member of the 2020 anarchist Portland Autonomous Zone known as CHAZ.”

Publisher’s rating: False

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle was allegedly elected by the conclave as the new pope.

Publisher’s rating: False

Kim Jong Un Mualaf dan Bangun Masjid Raya di Korea Utara

Publisher’s rating: Hoaks

Espos reports that it found no data supporting the claims that Kim Jong Un converted to Islam or built a new grand mosque in Pyongyang. It says the only mosque in Pyongyang is Masjid Ar-Rahman, located at the Iranian Embassy and built in 1985 for diplomats. [S1]