ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — During his ongoing African visit, Pope Leo XIV told journalists Saturday that engaging in a public argument with President Donald Trump regarding the Iran conflict holds no appeal for him, though he plans to maintain his Gospel-centered peace advocacy.
The pontiff made these remarks while speaking with reporters during his flight from Cameroon to Angola, as part of an 11-day African journey.
Leo addressed the escalating exchange following Trump’s recent criticisms of his peace-focused messaging, which has captured significant media attention this week. The American-born pope also worked to clarify his position, emphasizing that his spiritual teachings target no specific individual but rather reflect Christianity’s fundamental peace principles.
“There’s been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects, but because of the political situation created when, on the first day of the trip, the president of the United States made some comments about myself,” he said.
“Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary, trying to interpret what has been said.”
The controversy began April 12 when Trump used his Truth Social platform to attack Leo’s peace advocacy amid the ongoing Iran war, which started with combined U.S.-Israeli military action on February 28, followed by Iranian counter-strikes. Trump characterized Leo as weak on crime and too aligned with liberal politics, while claiming credit for the first American pope’s election.
Leo has maintained steady appeals for peace and diplomatic solutions, while condemning the use of faith to justify warfare. He specifically labeled Trump’s threats to destroy Iranian civilization as “truly unacceptable.”
Vatican officials have emphasized that Leo’s peace messages address global conflicts broadly, not solely the Iran situation. The Russian Orthodox Church, for instance, has characterized Moscow’s Ukrainian invasion as a “holy war.”
During Saturday’s media session, Leo referenced his earlier remarks this week at a peace gathering in Bamenda, Cameroon. That city sits at the center of a separatist struggle that has consumed the country’s western, English-speaking areas for almost ten years.
Leo explained that his speech condemning the “handful of tyrants” wreaking havoc through warfare and oppression was prepared two weeks prior, well before Trump’s public attacks began.
“And yet as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest at all,” he said.
Moving forward, he affirmed his commitment to continuing Gospel teachings.
“I primarily come to Africa as a pastor, as the head of the Catholic Church to be with, to celebrate with, to encourage and accompany all the Catholics throughout Africa,” he said.
He highlighted upcoming religious readings focusing on Christian discipleship and following Christ’s example, promoting brotherhood “but also looking for ways to promote justice in our world, promote peace in our world,” he said.
