Pope Leo said on Monday he will continue speaking out against war despite a direct attack from U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently criticized the head of the Catholic Church.
Speaking to reporters aboard a papal flight to Africa, Pope Leo said he does not intend to enter a political dispute, but insisted the Church has a moral duty to speak out when civilians are suffering.
“I will continue to speak out loudly against war,” he said, calling for peace, dialogue, and international cooperation to resolve global conflicts.
He added that too many innocent people are being killed and that the message of peace must be defended, not misused for political purposes.
Background: Clash Over War and Migration
The comments come after Trump called Pope Leo “terrible” and accused him of being weak on crime and foreign policy. The remarks followed the pope’s criticism of the Iran conflict and U.S. immigration policies.
Pope Leo, the first American pope, has recently become more vocal on global conflicts, repeatedly condemning war and calling for restraint in escalating international tensions.
Church Response and Message
The pope stressed that his role is not political but moral, grounded in the Church’s teaching on peace.
He reiterated that the core message of the Gospel is centered on protecting human life and promoting peace, not engaging in political rivalry.
Analysis: A Growing Public Rift
The exchange highlights a rare public confrontation between a U.S. president and the leader of the Catholic Church.
It also underscores a deeper divide over how global conflicts should be interpreted, with the pope emphasizing humanitarian responsibility while Trump takes a more security-focused political stance.
For now, the pope appears intent on continuing his public criticism of war, despite the political backlash.
With information from Reuters.
