Pope Leo XIV 'Ignored' Black Priest? Full Video Reveals What Happened Seconds Before Viral 'Snub'

Pope Leo XIV has been accused of 'ignoring' a Black clergyman after a viral video appeared to show the pontiff abruptly turning away just before shaking his hand. But longer footage from his visit to Metz, France, reveals a crucial intervention seconds before the apparent 'snub' that changes the context of the encounter.

The controversy erupted following Pope Leo's 28 September Mass at Saint-Étienne Cathedral, the final public gathering of his four-day visit to France. A shortened clip circulated widely on social media, prompting some users to accuse the Pope of racism after he appeared to greet people along a barrier before stopping short of the Black clergyman.

Video Shows What Happened Before Pope Turned Away

Longer footage broadcast by French Catholic channel KTO shows Leo approaching the final members of the clergy when a man from the papal delegation walks towards him.

The man was identified by TF1's Les Vérificateurs as Diego Ravelli, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, who oversees liturgical ceremonies presided over by the Pope both at the Vatican and during papal trips.

Ravelli appears to speak to Leo just as the pontiff is nearing the remaining clergy members. The conversation cannot be heard, but Leo immediately turns around and heads back towards officials positioned behind him.

Those officials included French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, as well as Luxembourg's Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie.

Why Did Pope Leo XIV Turn Back?

According to TF1's verification report, Ravelli appeared to indicate that Leo needed to greet the officials attending the Mass before continuing with members of the clergy. A source familiar with the organisation of papal Masses also told the French outlet that protocol requires the Pope to greet attending officials first before approaching clergy members.

However, precisely what Ravelli told Leo cannot be determined from the footage. TF1 said the Vatican had not responded to its request for confirmation by the time its report was published.

The longer sequence therefore provides important context missing from shortened versions of the Pope Leo XIV Black priest video. It shows that Leo's change of direction came immediately after the intervention from Ravelli, rather than establishing that the pontiff deliberately refused the clergyman's hand because of his race.

TF1 also reported that footage from the cathedral showed Leo greeting other Black clergy members during the same sequence.

Pope Leo XIV Viral Video Fuels Online Racism Row

Despite the additional footage, the shortened clip rapidly fuelled accusations against the pontiff online.

TF1's verification team found that the video had been particularly amplified by some Pan-Africanist accounts and activists that have previously circulated pro-Russian narratives or misinformation. The finding does not, however, establish that the clip itself was part of a coordinated Russian campaign.

The controversy came as Leo used his Metz visit to emphasise equality, multiculturalism and respect for differences.

Earlier that day, the Pope urged Europe to uphold equality without distinction based on 'race, colour, class or profession' and called for greater respect towards migrants.

During his Mass at Saint-Étienne Cathedral, Leo returned to the theme of diversity, telling worshippers that Europe's future 'does not lie in uniformity, but in the harmony of differences.'