Pope Leo XIV has pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s criticisms of his stance on global conflicts. Speaking to journalists aboard the papal plane en route to Algeria, the pontiff said his duty — and that of the Catholic Church — is to proclaim the message of the Gospel, not to align with political interests.
“I have no fear of your administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the Church is here to do,” the pontiff said.
“We are not politicians. We don’t deal with foreign policy with the same perspective you might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker.”
The pope’s remarks arrive on the heels of Trump’s scathing attack on him. The US leader had criticised Leo’s position on global security issues, accusing him of taking a liberal political position.
The pope has been a vocal critic of the Iran war, describing it as unjust and warning against what he called a “delusion of omnipotence” driving global conflict.
He has also condemned the use of religious justification for violence, insisting that “God does not bless any conflict” and urging world leaders to embrace dialogue and mediation instead of war.
