Pope Leo Xiv Says ‘not In My Interest At All’ To Debate Trump But Will Keep Preaching Peace

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Leo XIV said Saturday that it was “not successful my liking astatine all” to statement U.S. President Trump astir nan Iran war, but that he would proceed preaching nan Gospel connection of peace.

Leo said to reporters aboard nan papal level flying from Cameroon to Angola arsenic portion of his 11-day circuit of Africa.

He addressed nan spiraling back-and-forth saga of Trump’s critiques of his bid message, which person dominated news headlines this week. But nan American pope besides sought to group nan grounds straight, insisting that his preaching isn’t directed astatine Trump, but reflects nan broader Gospel connection of peace.

“There’s been a definite communicative that has not been meticulous successful each of its aspects, but because of nan governmental business created when, connected nan first time of nan trip, nan president of nan United States made immoderate comments astir myself,” he said.

“Much of what has been written since past has been much commentary connected commentary, trying to construe what has been said.”

Trump launched nan disapproval connected his societal media level Truth Social connected nan nighttime of April 12, erstwhile he criticized Leo’s preaching astir bid arsenic nan war, which began pinch associated U.S.-Israeli strikes connected Feb. 28 and was followed by Iran’s retaliation, raged on. Trump accused Leo of being soft connected crime, cozy pinch nan near and said that nan first American pontiff owed his predetermination to Trump.

Leo has issued accordant calls for bid and dialogue, and has denounced nan usage of belief justification for war. Specifically, he called Trump’s threat to annihilate Iranian civilization “truly unacceptable.”

The Vatican has stressed that erstwhile Leo preaches astir peace, he is referring to each wars ravaging nan planet, not conscionable nan Iran conflict. The Russian Orthodox Church, for example, has justified Moscow’s penetration of Ukraine arsenic a “holy war.”

Speaking to reporters connected Saturday, Leo referred specifically to his remarks earlier this week to a bid gathering successful Bamenda, Cameroon. The metropolis is nan epicenter of a separatist conflict that has been raging successful nan western, Anglophone region of nan state for astir a decade.

Leo said that his remarks, successful which he blasted nan “handful of tyrants” who were ravaging Earth pinch warfare and exploitation, were written 2 weeks ago, agelong earlier Trump’s criticisms began.

“And yet arsenic it happens, it was looked astatine arsenic if I was trying to statement again nan president, which is not successful my liking astatine all,” he said.

Looking ahead, however, he said that he would proceed preaching nan Gospel.

“I chiefly travel to Africa arsenic a pastor, arsenic nan caput of nan Catholic Church to beryllium with, to observe with, to promote and travel each nan Catholics passim Africa,” he said.

He drew attraction to immoderate upcoming liturgical readings astir what it intends to beryllium Christian and to travel Christ, beforehand fraternity and brotherhood, “but besides looking for ways to beforehand justness successful our world, beforehand bid successful our world,” he said.

Leo arrived later Saturday successful Angola, nan 3rd extremity connected his four-nation tour. A connection of bid would beryllium particularly applicable for nan confederate African country, which was ravaged by a 27-year civilian warfare that ended successful 2002 but has near heavy scars.

Leo will meet pinch Angolan President Joao Lourenco and present his first reside earlier authorities authorities, erstwhile he hopes to bring joyousness and encouragement to Angola’s long-suffering people.

Winfield writes for nan Associated Press.