ALGIERS and LONDON — Pope Leo XIV on Monday responded to criticism from President Donald Trump, telling reporters whereas touring to Algeria that he has “no worry” of the White Home.
“I’ve no worry of the Trump administration, nor talking out loudly in regards to the message of the Gospel,” the pontiff stated on Monday, as he started a dayslong go to to 4 African nations. “That is what I imagine in. I’m referred to as to do what the church known as to do.”
The pope on Saturday referred to as for an finish to battle, with out explicitly mentioning the U.S.-Israeli warfare towards Iran. “Sufficient of warfare,” Leo stated throughout a peace vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican Metropolis.
The pope additionally prompt “delusion of omnipotence” is fueling the U.S.-Israel warfare in Iran, imploring the nation leaders to come back to a peace settlement.
Trump on Sunday evening posted on social media calling the pope “WEAK on Crime, and horrible for Overseas Coverage.”
Pope Leo XIV addresses journalists throughout the flight heading to Algiers on April 13, 2026. Pope Leo XIV embarks as we speak on an 11-day go to to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea for his first main worldwide journey since turning into pontiff final 12 months.
Alberto Pizzoli/POOL/AFP by way of Getty Photos
The pope, who was born in Chicago and is the primary American to guide the Catholic Church, was elevated to his place in Could 2025, a number of months into Trump’s second time period. The president at the moment congratulated Leo, saying on social media that it was “such an honor” for an American to grow to be pope.
The pontiff has voiced concern about a number of armed conflicts, repeatedly calling for peace, together with mentioning the civil warfare raging in Sudan, the Russia-Ukraine warfare and the combating between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. He has referred to as for peace in Iran and the broader Center East because the starting of the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The pontiff has been a robust messenger for world peace because the begin of his papacy final Could.
He has repeatedly referred to as for the events concerned to have interaction in negotiations, together with saying on March 1 that he was making “a heartfelt attraction to all of the events concerned to imagine the ethical duty of halting the spiral of violence earlier than it turns into an unbridgeable chasm.” He has stated that “God doesn’t bless any battle.”
Pope Leo XIV boards his aircraft heading to Algiers at Rome’s Fiumicino airport on April 13, 2026.
Tiziana Fabi/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Leo stated on Monday that his feedback “are actually not meant as assaults on anybody and the message of the Gospel may be very clear, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.'”
“I can’t shrink back from announcing the message of the Gospel, of inviting all individuals to search for methods of constructing bridges for peace and reconciliation, of on the lookout for methods to keep away from warfare any time that is potential,” Leo continued. “To place my message on the identical aircraft as what the president has tried to do right here I believe shouldn’t be understanding what the message of the Gospel is and I am sorry to listen to that.”
Pope Leo XIV gestures throughout a go to on the Maqam Echahid Martyrs’ Monument in El Madania, close to Algiers on April 13, 2026.
Alberto Pizzoli/POOL/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Trump early on Monday had referred to as for the pope to deal with “being a Nice Pope, not a Politician.”
“It’s hurting him very badly and, extra importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!” Trump wrote on his social media community.
Responding to a query from reporters hours later, Leo stated of the obvious tensions with Trump, “I don’t have a look at my position as being political … I do not wish to get right into a debate with him. I do not assume that the message of the Gospel is supposed to be abused in the way in which that some individuals are doing.”
“I’ll proceed to talk out loud towards warfare, trying to promote peace, selling dialogue, multilateral relationships among the many states to search for simply options to issues,” he stated. “Too many individuals are struggling on this planet as we speak. Too many harmless individuals are being killed. And I believe somebody has to face up and say, ‘There’s a greater means to do that.'”
