Pope Leo debunks fear of Trump
- Global News News
Favour Chikwesiri Michael
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Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost addresses the crowd on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter’s Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in The Vatican, on May 8, 2025. Robert Francis Prevost was on Thursday elected the first pope from the United States, the Vatican announced. A moderate who was close to Pope Francis and spent years as a missionary in Peru, he becomes the Catholic Church’s 267th pontiff, taking the papal name Leo XIV. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)
Pope Leo XIV said on Monday he had no fear of the Trump administration and would continue speaking out on the Gospel message of peace, after US President Donald Trump personally attacked him the previous night.
Speaking to journalists flying with him to Algiers at the start of a 10-day tour of Africa, the pontiff stressed that the Church was not engaged in politics or foreign policy in the same way as governments.
“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, what the Church is here to do,” he said. “We are not politicians. We don’t deal with foreign policy with the same perspective he might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker.”
The remarks came hours after Mr Trump criticised Pope Leo on social media and to reporters, calling him “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy” and suggesting he was “catering to the Radical Left”. The president’s broadside followed the pope’s recent condemnation of threats related to the Iran conflict as “truly unacceptable”.
Pope Leo, the first US-born pontiff, is visiting Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea on his tour, which is expected to highlight the needs of the African continent. He landed in Algiers on Monday morning and was due to meet political leaders and visit the Great Mosque of Algiers.
The 69-year-old, elected in May 2025 after the death of Pope Francis, has emerged as an outspoken advocate for multilateral dialogue and against war in recent weeks. He repeatedly cited the Gospel injunction “Blessed are the peacemakers” and said he had no intention of entering into a personal debate with the US president.
“I don’t want to get into a debate with him,” he told reporters. “Rather, let us always seek peace and put an end to wars.”
Vatican officials have described the trip as pastoral, focused on dialogue with Muslim-majority Algeria and support for Catholic communities across Africa.
