Pope Leo XIV has clarified that his recent criticism of “tyrants” and leaders who spend billions on war was not directed at U.S. President Donald Trump. The pope made the statement aboard a flight to Angola on Saturday, as he continued his major tour of Africa.
The remarks came just days after a public disagreement between the two leaders. Trump had sharply criticized the pope, calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.” The tension grew after the pope voiced concerns about the U.S.-Israeli military actions in Iran and threats related to the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to reporters on the papal plane, Pope Leo explained that the speech he gave in Cameroon on Thursday had actually been written two weeks earlier — well before Trump’s comments about him. “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 said.
The pontiff added that an inaccurate narrative had developed around the political situation created by Trump’s remarks. He stressed that his focus remains on promoting peace, not engaging in personal debates.
In the Cameroon speech, delivered during a peace meeting in the city of Bamenda, the pope condemned leaders who ignore the human cost of conflict. He said they “turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found.”
He also referred to “the masters of war” who “pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild.” The pope spoke out against an “endless cycle of destabilisation and death” in a troubled region of Cameroon that has faced insurgency for nearly a decade. He described the area as “bloodstained” and called for an end to violence and corruption.
Although the speech did not name any specific leader or country, many people interpreted the strong words as a reference to the ongoing situation involving Trump and the conflict in Iran. Trump responded by saying the pope could “say what he wants,” but that he disagreed with him.
The disagreement began after the pope expressed worry over Trump’s warning that “a whole civilisation will die” if Iran did not meet U.S. demands to end the war and allow access through the Strait of Hormuz. In reply, Trump posted a lengthy criticism online and even shared an AI-generated image of himself portrayed in a Jesus-like way, which he later deleted.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, is currently on an 11-day tour visiting 11 cities across four African countries. This is only his second major international trip since he was elected last year. The visit highlights the growing importance of Africa to the Catholic Church. More than one-fifth of the world’s Catholics — about 288 million people — now live on the continent, according to 2024 figures.
Throughout the trip, the pope has continued to emphasize messages of peace, unity, and care for those affected by conflict. By clarifying his earlier comments, he appears to be trying to refocus attention on these core issues rather than on the exchange with President Trump.