Pope Leo, after criticizing Trump, said he "is not afraid" of his administration

The Vatican responded to US President Donald Trump's verbal attack on Pope Leo XIV, writes  UNN, citing CNN.

Details

In the Vatican's first response to US President Donald Trump's harsh criticism of Pope Leo XIV, a Vatican official stated that the US leader targeted a "moral voice" because he "cannot contain it."

"Trump is not debating Leo: he is begging him to switch to a language he can dominate. But the Pope speaks another language, a language that refuses to be reduced to the grammar of power, security, national interests," Father Antonio Spadaro said on X.

Pope Leo XIV himself, while speaking to journalists on board a plane en route to Africa, stated that he "is not afraid of the Trump administration" and will continue to speak out after the US president criticized his comments on the war with Iran.

"I will not enter into a debate. What I say is not an attack on anyone," Pope Leo said. "I call on all people to seek ways to build bridges of peace and reconciliation, to seek ways to avoid war whenever possible."

The Pontiff promised to continue what I believe is the mission of the Church in the world today.

"I am not afraid of the Trump administration or of loudly proclaiming the message of the Gospel, which I believe I am here to do, the Church is here to do. We are not politicians, we do not engage in foreign policy from the same perspective as he may understand it. But I believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker," the pontiff said.

Trump-Pope conflict - what is known

US President Donald Trump publicly criticized Pope Leo XIV ahead of his African tour.

US leader Donald Trump made harsh statements against Pope Leo XIV on April 13. In particular, he called the pontiff "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy," and also stated that he is not his supporter and considers him "very liberal."

As Reuters notes, these outbursts came amid criticism from the Pope regarding the war around Iran and Trump's migration policy.

Pope Leo XIV began a major African tour. According to Reuters, the trip will last about 10 days and will cover Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. The Vatican explained that the purpose of the visit is to draw the world's attention to Africa's problems, particularly to the topics of resource exploitation, interreligious dialogue, and political corruption.

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