LUANDA, ANGOLA — Pope Leo addressed the alleged feud between himself and President Donald Trump on Saturday, reiterating that his remarks selling the Gospel’s message of peace weren’t meant to debate the president.
The pope advised reporters, with out being prompted, that he wished to clear up “a sure narrative that has not been correct” about his feedback and speeches that he has made throughout his papal tour by Africa that prompted Trump to assault him in social media posts.
Pope Leo XIV arrives to guide a Holy Mass on the Yaounde Ville Airport in Yaounde on the sixth day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa, on April 18, 2026.
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP through Getty Photos
Trump has repeatedly accused the primary American pope of being “weak” on crime and making false allegations that Leo wished Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
Throughout a speech in Cameroon on Thursday, Leo advised the group, “Woe to those that manipulate faith and the very identify of God for their very own navy, financial and political achieve, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”
Leo advised reporters Saturday that the speech was “ready two weeks in the past, nicely earlier than the president ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I’m selling.”
Pope Leo XIV briefs the press aboard a flight on his approach to Luanda, Angola, April 18, 2026.
Luca Zennaro, Pool through EPA through Shutterstock
“But because it occurs, it was checked out as if I used to be making an attempt to debate, once more, the president, which isn’t in my curiosity in any respect,” he mentioned. “So, we go on the journey, we proceed proclaiming the Gospel message.”
Leo has been outspoken about his opposition to the struggle in Iran, and although he didn’t identify Trump in his speeches and homilies, he has known as on leaders to cease the violence.
When requested about Trump’s feedback on Monday, Leo told reporters, he had “no worry of the Trump administration, nor talking out loudly concerning the message of the Gospel.”
“That is what I imagine in. I’m known as to do what the church is named to do,” Leo mentioned Monday.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance have been slammed by American Catholic leaders and plenty of Catholic teams for his or her rhetoric and criticism of the pope over the past two weeks.
President Donald Trump speaks to the press, as he arrives at Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, April 17, 2026.
Evan Vucci/Reuters
The president went so far as posting an AI-generated picture depicting himself as a Christ-like determine Monday earlier than taking it down. He later reposted one other picture of Jesus embracing him.
Trump denied that the deleted put up had any connection to Jesus in any respect, and claimed it was alleged to be him as a physician.
“I would like him to evangelise the gospel. I am all concerning the gospel. However I additionally know that you just can’t let a sure nation, which is a really mean-spirited nation, have a nuclear weapon,” Trump advised reporters Thursday. “The pope may disagree with me on that, however actually we’re allowed to have that.”
-ABC Information’ Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.
