Rumor – Ibrahim Traoré allegedly sent a letter to Pope Leo XIV demanding actions in favor of Africa and received a historic response including a billion-euro fund and a visit to the continent.
Analysis
The name of Ibrahim Traoré, interim president of Burkina Faso, has become a frequent figure in viral videos on social media. These videos often attribute confrontations with international authorities and allegedly “revolutionary” actions to him. Many of these videos use artificial intelligence to create speeches or situations that never happened but gain traction among unsuspecting viewers.
The most recent example is a video circulating on YouTube and social media claiming that Ibrahim Traoré sent a letter to “Pope Leo XIV,” criticizing the Vatican’s opulence in contrast with Africa’s struggles. According to the video, the pope allegedly responded with unprecedented actions, including the creation of a billion-euro fund, ecclesiastical reforms, and a visit to Burkina Faso. Here’s the content:
IBRAHIM TRAORÉ sends SHOCKING MESSAGE to the new POPE LEO XIV… and LEAVES EVERYONE SPEECHLESS… The young president of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traoré, shocked the world by sending a historic letter to the new Pope Leo XIV after the death of Pope Francis. With bold words and painful truths, he confronted the Church over the Vatican’s wealth while Africa suffers in misery.
The Pope’s response surprised everyone: for the first time in history, the Vatican took revolutionary measures that forever changed its relationship with Africa. A 50-billion-euro fund, changes in Church hierarchy, and a historic visit to Burkina Faso marked the beginning of a new era. A story of courage that shows us how truth, when spoken firmly and heard humbly, can transform even the most powerful institutions in the world.
Fact-check
As in other cases, this is another fake news story created with AI. The viral content contains three central points that need analysis: 1) Who is Ibrahim Traoré? 2) Did Ibrahim Traoré send a letter to Pope Leo XIV about Africa? 3) Did Pope Leo XIV announce a fund for Africa and respond to him?
Who is Ibrahim Traoré?
Ibrahim Traoré is the current interim president of Burkina Faso, having taken power after a military coup in September 2022. At 34, he became the youngest head of state in the world at the time.
His image has been widely used in fictional internet content, often placing him in fabricated confrontations with figures like Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and judicial leaders — always under the narrative that he “faces the system” with bravery. One such example can be seen in this debunked article from Boatos.org, which falsely claimed that Traoré responded to Donald Trump — something that never happened.
Did Ibrahim Traoré send a letter to Pope Leo XIV about Africa?
No. This information has no basis in reality. There is no public record in credible news outlets or on the Vatican’s website of Ibrahim Traoré sending any letter to the newly appointed pontiff. Since no letter was sent, no response could have been made. It is also worth noting that Leo XIV has not yet made his first official trip.
Did Pope Leo XIV announce a fund for Africa and respond to him?
There has been no recent announcement of a billion-euro fund from the Vatican as described. The claim of a 50-billion-euro fund is entirely unfounded. There are also no reports of changes in the Catholic Church structure linked to the president of Burkina Faso, nor any planned papal visit to the country. These elements are part of a fictional narrative built using artificial intelligence, as seen in other similar videos such as this previous debunk.
Conclusion
The video claiming that Ibrahim Traoré sent a letter to Pope Leo XIV, received a response, and sparked a transformation in the Catholic Church is false. There is no such letter sent or received, and no billion-euro fund was announced. This is yet another fictional piece created with artificial intelligence to distort the image of the president of Burkina Faso.
Fake news ❌
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