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Pope Leo denies targeting Trump in 'tyrants' remarks
Pope Leo stated his recent criticism of leaders spending billions on war was not directed at US President Donald Trump, despite timing that sparked speculation.
Speech prepared weeks before Trump's comments
The pontiff told reporters aboard a flight to Angola on Saturday that his speech, delivered in Cameroon on Thursday, had been written two weeks earlier-"well before the president ever commented on myself."
"It was looked at as if I was trying to debate the president again, which is not in my interest at all," he said, addressing perceptions that his words were a response to Trump.
Trump's fiery response to papal criticism
Earlier this week, Trump launched a scathing attack on Pope Leo, calling him "terrible for foreign policy" and "WEAK on crime" in a social media post. The president also shared-and later deleted-an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Christ-like figure.
The dispute escalated after the Pope expressed concern over Trump's warning that "a whole civilisation will die" if Iran refused US demands to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Vance defends Pope amid media narratives
US Vice-President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism as an adult, praised Pope Leo for clarifying his remarks. "While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict, the reality is often much more complicated," Vance said.
Earlier, Vance had urged the Vatican to "stick to matters of morality" before the Pope's speech referencing "tyrants" who prioritize military spending over healing and education.
Pope condemns war spending in Cameroon speech
During his address in Cameroon, Pope Leo criticized leaders who "turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation," while resources for rebuilding remain scarce.
"The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild."
Pope Leo
He also denounced an "endless cycle of destabilisation and death" in a conflict-ridden region of Cameroon, where insurgency has persisted for nearly a decade.
Africa tour highlights Catholic growth
The Pope's trip spans 11 cities across four African nations, marking his second major foreign visit since his election last year. Africa is home to over 288 million Catholics-more than a fifth of the global Catholic population, according to 2024 data.
