Pope Leo XIV has sought to defuse tensions with US President Donald Trump, rejecting suggestions that his recent criticism of the war in the Middle East was intended as a challenge to the White House. Speaking to reporters aboard his flight to Angola on Saturday, the pontiff insisted his remarks were not confrontational and blamed media speculation for inflating the dispute.
“There has been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects,” Pope Leo said, noting that much of the coverage amounted to “commentary on commentary” rather than a faithful account of his words. He emphasized that his comments in Cameroon earlier this week—where he denounced leaders who spend billions on wars and described the world as “ravaged by a handful of tyrants”—were not aimed at Trump personally.
“And yet, as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate the president, which is not my interest at all,” he said.
While Pope Leo has previously criticized Trump administration policies—including mass deportations and the characterization of Europe as “decaying”—the latest friction stems from the pontiff’s calls for peace in the Middle East. He urged all parties to “stop the spiral of violence” and described Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization as “unacceptable.” The pope also remarked that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war,” a statement made after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Americans to pray “in the name of Jesus Christ.”
Trump, in turn, described the pope as “weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy,” adding that he did not want “a pope who criticizes the President of the United States.” US Vice President J.D. Vance, who has previously been critical of the pontiff, welcomed Leo’s clarification. “I am grateful to Pope Leo for saying this,” Vance wrote on social media. “While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict—and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen—the reality is often much more complicated.”
The exchange underscores ongoing tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration over foreign policy and human rights, with the pope continuing to advocate for peace and humanitarian values in the face of escalating global conflicts.
