Pope Leo XIV isn’t backing down after Donald Trump took aim at him over the Vatican’s calls for peace in the U.S.-Israel war in Iran.
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While traveling to Algeria on Monday, the Pope spoke candidly with reporters, making it clear that his priorities aren’t dictated by the White House, but by his faith.
The friction between the two leaders grew after the Pope criticized the global conflicts and the mindset behind them. Responding to Trump’s pushback, Leo XIV suggested the administration is confusing a spiritual message with a political one.
“To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is,” the Pope told The Associated Press. “And I’m sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today.”
Throughout the flight, the Pope stressed that he wasn’t looking for a personal fight with Trump, even when discussing what he called the “delusion of omnipotence” driving modern warfare. Instead, he framed his words as a universal call for human decency. “I will not enter into debate. The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone. The message of the Gospel is very clear: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers,’” Leo said.
The Pope made it known that he intends to keep pushing for diplomacy, regardless of how it lands in Washington. “I will not shy away from announcing the message of the Gospel and inviting all people to look for ways of building bridges of peace and reconciliation, and looking for ways to avoid war any time that’s possible,” he stated.
When asked directly if he was concerned about the political fallout from his statements, Leo XIV remained steady. “I’m not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for,” he told the press. He pointed out the fundamental difference between his role and that of a world leader, saying, “We are not politicians. We do not look at foreign policy from the same perspective that he may have.”
For the Pope, the issue isn’t about borders or strategy, it’s about the lives being lost. “Too many people are suffering today, too many innocent people have been killed, and I believe someone must stand up and say that there is a better way,” he said.
