Pope Leo XIV confirmed that he did not intend to engage in a dispute with Donald Trump again, following a speech a few days earlier in which he condemned “tyrants” who spend vast amounts on war.
On 18 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Pope Leo XIV stated he did not intend to argue with Donald Trump after delivering a speech earlier that week criticizing “tyrants” for allocating billions of dollars to war while neglecting restoration efforts.
The Pope explained that the statement, which came just days after a heated exchange with the U.S. president, had actually been written two weeks earlier—well before the president commented on him.
“However, since the timing coincided, it has been perceived as if I intended to argue with the president again, which is not something I am interested in at all,” he told reporters during a flight to Angola on Saturday.
Earlier on Monday, Trump launched a fierce attack on Pope Leo, saying the Pope was “terrible on foreign policy” after the pontiff consistently criticized U.S. and Israeli military operations in Iran.
Then on Thursday (16 Apr), Pope Leo delivered a speech in Cameroon, criticizing leaders who “ignore the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and destruction, yet there are no resources for healing, education, and reconstruction.”
“The warlords pretend not to know that destruction takes only a blink of an eye, but often a lifetime is not enough for restoration,” the Pope said.
He also condemned the “vicious cycle of instability and endless death” in the “blood-soaked” region of Cameroon, which has been under rebel control for nearly a decade.
However, many interpreted Pope Leo’s remarks as a reference to Trump, who later told reporters, “The Pope can say whatever he wants, and I want him to say what he wants, but I have the right to disagree.”
Previously, Trump posted a lengthy criticism of the Catholic Church leader after the Pope expressed concern about Trump’s threat that “civilization will end” if Iran did not comply with U.S. demands to cease war and open the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. president said he was “not a big fan” of the Pope and labeled him “soft on crime and terrible on foreign policy.” Trump also posted an AI-generated image of himself resembling Jesus, which he later deleted after heavy criticism.
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Source:bbc