Pope Leo XIV pushed back on President Donald Trump’s criticisms and restated his independence from US politics, saying he would continue speaking out on war and moral issues regardless of the backlash.
Speaking to reporters on Monday while traveling from Rome to Algiers, Leo directly addressed Trump’s social media posts and comments targeting him. “I have no fear of the Trump administration, or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do,” he said. When asked about Trump’s remarks posted on Truth Social, the pope added: “It’s ironic — the name of the site itself. Say no more.”
The pope also rejected the idea that his public statements are politically motivated or aimed at any individual leader. “The things I say are not meant as attacks on anyone,” Leo said. “I do not look at my role as being political, a politician. I don’t want to get into a debate with him. I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing.”
Leo went on to stress that his focus remains on peace and diplomacy amid ongoing global conflict, particularly the war involving Iran. “I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems. Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way.”
The remarks come after Trump issued a series of sharp attacks against the pontiff over the weekend, including a social media post that criticized Leo as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.” Trump also posted a digitally generated image depicting himself in a religious, Jesus-like role healing a patient, shared on his Truth Social account shortly after the criticism.
In his earlier post, Trump also suggested the pope owed his position to him and US politics, writing: “Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise,” Trump wrote. “He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
Trump added that he preferred the pope’s brother and urged Leo to “focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.”
Speaking to reporters on Monday while traveling from Rome to Algiers, Leo directly addressed Trump’s social media posts and comments targeting him. “I have no fear of the Trump administration, or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do,” he said. When asked about Trump’s remarks posted on Truth Social, the pope added: “It’s ironic — the name of the site itself. Say no more.”
The pope also rejected the idea that his public statements are politically motivated or aimed at any individual leader. “The things I say are not meant as attacks on anyone,” Leo said. “I do not look at my role as being political, a politician. I don’t want to get into a debate with him. I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing.”
Leo went on to stress that his focus remains on peace and diplomacy amid ongoing global conflict, particularly the war involving Iran. “I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems. Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way.”
The remarks come after Trump issued a series of sharp attacks against the pontiff over the weekend, including a social media post that criticized Leo as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.” Trump also posted a digitally generated image depicting himself in a religious, Jesus-like role healing a patient, shared on his Truth Social account shortly after the criticism.
In his earlier post, Trump also suggested the pope owed his position to him and US politics, writing: “Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise,” Trump wrote. “He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
Trump added that he preferred the pope’s brother and urged Leo to “focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.”
