Pope Leo XIV has pushed back strongly against criticism from Donald Trump, insisting he remains undeterred in his call for global peace and is “not afraid” of the U.S. leader.
Speaking to journalists on Monday aboard a flight to Algiers—the first leg of his Africa tour—the pontiff clarified that his repeated appeals to end wars worldwide are not politically motivated attacks.
“The things I say are not meant as attacks on anyone,” Leo said. “I am not a politician. I am inviting all people to look for ways of building bridges of peace and reconciliation, and to avoid war whenever possible.”
His remarks come shortly after Trump criticized the pope’s stance, describing it as a “terrible foreign policy” on his Truth Social platform. The former president also claimed Leo’s rise to the papacy was tied to expectations that an American pope could better engage with him.
“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo would not be in the Vatican,” Trump wrote, adding that he opposed any position that would tolerate Iran possessing nuclear weapons.
Responding directly, the pope emphasized that his message is rooted in the teachings of the Gospel, not geopolitics.
“The message of the gospel is very clear: ‘blessed are the peacemakers.’ I will not shy away from announcing it,” he said. “To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here is not understanding what the message of the gospel is.”
Despite the sharp exchange, Leo reaffirmed his commitment to what he described as the Church’s mission in today’s world—promoting peace, dialogue, and reconciliation across nations.
He concluded firmly: “I will continue on with what I believe is the mission of the Church.”
