Pope Leo
The Pope said during his 10-day tour of Africa aboard a flight to Angola that reporting on his remarks “was not accurate in all its aspects” and that his speech “was prepared two weeks ago, long before the President had ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I promote.” according to Reuters.
The news agency quoted the pope as saying his comments were not directed at Trump.
“It just happened to be looked at as if I was trying to debate the president, which is not in my interest at all,” the pope reportedly said.
’60 MINUTES’ ACCUSED OF USING LEFT-LEANING CARDINALS TO LARGE TRUMP INTO A BATTLE WITH VATICAN
Pope Leo XIV answers questions from journalists during his flight from Yaounde, Cameroon, to Luanda, Angola, on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Luca Zennaro/swimming pool photo via AP)
Trump on Sunday accused Pope Leo
“He talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church and all other Christian organizations had during COVID, when they arrested priests, pastors and everyone else for holding church services even when they went outside, and 10 to 20 feet apart from each other,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
“I don’t want a pope who thinks it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” he continued.
POPE LEO SLAMS THOSE WHO ‘MANIPULATE RELIGION’ FOR MILITARY OR POLITICAL GAIN, TRUMP RESPONDS
A split image shows Pope Leo XIV, left, and President Donald Trump, right, amid a public dispute over immigration policy and the conflict involving Iran. (Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images; Salwan Georges/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
During a speech in Cameroon on Thursday, the Pope said: “We must, of course, make a decisive change of course – a true conversion – which will lead us in the opposite direction, towards a sustainable path rich in human fraternity.”
“The world is ravaged by a handful of tyrants, but held together by a host of supportive brothers and sisters!” he added.
Pope Leo (Alberto PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
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“Woe to those who manipulate religion and the name of God for their own military, economic or political gain, dragging what is holy into darkness and filth,” the pope also said.
