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Algiers — Pope Leo has responded to sharply-worded disapproval from the President, saying helium has "no fearfulness of the Trump administration" and volition proceed to talk retired "loudly" for the connection of the Gospel.
Late Sunday, Mr. Trump lashed retired astatine the pontiff connected societal media, calling him "WEAK connected Crime, and unspeakable for Foreign Policy."
"I don't privation a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to person a Nuclear Weapon," helium added.
Leo had antecedently called Mr. Trump's menace to hitch retired Iranian civilization "truly unacceptable" and encouraged radical to interaction "political leaders … to inquire them, archer them to enactment for peace."
Speaking to journalists Monday aboard the papal level arsenic helium began a travel to Africa, Leo declined to code the president's station directly. "I americium not a politician," helium said. "I volition permission that to the politicians."
But helium pushed backmost connected the substance of Mr. Trump's criticism, informing against attempts to equate his connection with governmental agendas, and hinting that the president did not recognize the connection of the Gospel.
Pope Leo XIV addresses journalists during the formation heading to Algiers connected April 13, 2026.
Alberto PIZZOLI / POOL /AFP via Getty Images
"To enactment my connection connected the aforesaid level arsenic what the president has attempted to bash present is, I think, not knowing what the connection of the Gospel is," helium said. "I americium atrocious to perceive that, but I volition proceed with what I judge is the ngo of the Church successful the satellite today."
That mission, helium said, is rooted successful a accordant telephone for peace, 1 helium insisted applies to each leaders, not conscionable the United States.
"The connection of the Gospel is precise clear: 'Blessed are the peacemakers,'" Leo said, adding that helium volition not shy distant from proclaiming it. "Too galore radical are suffering today. Too galore guiltless radical person been killed."
The pope said helium sees his relation not arsenic entering governmental debates, but arsenic offering a motivation alternate astatine a clip of rising planetary tensions.
"Someone has to basal up and accidental that determination is simply a amended way," helium said, pointing to dialogue, reconciliation and multilateral practice arsenic the way forward.
Leo's remarks travel astatine the commencement of an 11-day travel that volition instrumentality him to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, countries grappling with conflict, inequality and governmental instability.
The American pope's comments aboard the level are his strongest to day pushing backmost against disapproval from the American president.
Amid the backdrop of the warfare successful Iran, Leo has repeatedly warned successful caller days that unit is becoming normalized and that spiritual connection is astatine hazard of being misused to warrant it.
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