Pope Leo Dismisses Trump Debate, Prioritises African Peace Mission
Pope Leo XIV has firmly rejected the notion of debating U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the Iran war, declaring it "not in my interest at all." The American pontiff made these remarks while speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane during his 11-day tour of Africa, which included a flight from Cameroon to Angola on Saturday, 18 April 2026.
Addressing Political Tensions and Misinterpretations
Leo addressed the escalating back-and-forth saga that has dominated headlines this week, stemming from Trump's critiques of his peace message. He clarified that his preaching is not directed at Trump personally but reflects the broader Gospel message of peace. "There's been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects," Leo explained, attributing the political situation to comments made by the U.S. president at the start of his trip.
He noted that much of the subsequent coverage has been "more commentary on commentary," attempting to interpret the exchanges rather than focusing on the core message. Trump launched his criticism on Truth Social on 12 April, accusing Leo of being soft on crime, cozy with the left, and suggesting the pontiff owed his election to Trump. This came as the war, initiated by joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on 28 February and followed by Iran's retaliation, continued to rage.
Consistent Calls for Peace and Dialogue
Throughout the controversy, Pope Leo has issued consistent calls for peace and dialogue, denouncing the use of religious justification for war. He specifically labelled Trump's threat to annihilate Iranian civilization as "truly unacceptable." The Vatican has emphasised that Leo's peace preaching refers to all global conflicts, not just the Iran war, citing examples like the Russian Orthodox Church's justification of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine as a "holy war."
During his press conference, Leo referred to his earlier remarks at a peace meeting in Bamenda, Cameroon, a city at the epicentre of a separatist conflict in the Anglophone region that has lasted nearly a decade. He clarified that those comments, which blasted "a handful of tyrants" ravaging Earth with war and exploitation, were written two weeks prior to Trump's criticisms. "And yet as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest at all," he stated.
Focus on African Pastoral Visit and Future Preaching
Looking ahead, Pope Leo affirmed his commitment to continuing his Gospel preaching. "I primarily come to Africa as a pastor, as the head of the Catholic Church to be with, to celebrate with, to encourage and accompany all the Catholics throughout Africa," he said. He highlighted upcoming liturgical readings that focus on Christian fraternity, brotherhood, and the promotion of justice and peace in the world.
Later on Saturday, Leo arrived in Angola, the third stop on his four-nation tour. This visit holds particular significance as Angola endured a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002, leaving deep scars. During his stay, he is scheduled to meet with Angolan President Joao Lourenco and deliver a speech before government authorities, aiming to bring joy and encouragement to the country's long-suffering people.
