ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Leo XIV on Monday pushed back against criticism from Donald Trump over the ongoing U.S.-Israel war involving Iran, emphasizing that the Vatican’s calls for peace are rooted in the Gospel and not political positioning.
Speaking to reporters, including The Associated Press, during a flight to Algeria, the pontiff said he does not fear the Trump administration and will continue advocating for peace and reconciliation.
“To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here, I think is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is,” Leo said. “And I’m sorry to hear that but I will continue on what I believe is the mission of the church in the world today.”
The first U.S.-born pope clarified that his remarks were not intended as direct attacks on Trump or other leaders, but rather as part of a broader appeal to end violence and promote dialogue. He reiterated the Church’s role in encouraging peace, citing the Gospel teaching: “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
“I will not enter into debate. The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone,” he said. “I will not shy away from announcing the message of the Gospel and inviting all people to look for ways of building bridges of peace and reconciliation, and looking for ways to avoid war any time that’s possible.”
Leo added that the Church does not approach global conflicts through the lens of foreign policy. “We are not politicians. We do not look at foreign policy from the same perspective that he may have,” he said, while stressing the need for dialogue and multilateral solutions.
The exchange follows sharp criticism from Trump, who publicly questioned the pope’s leadership and described him as “very liberal.” The president said he was “not a fan” of Leo and urged the pontiff to “stop catering to the Radical Left.”
Trump’s remarks came after the pope warned that a “delusion of omnipotence” was contributing to the escalation of the Iran conflict and other global crises. While tensions between popes and political leaders are not uncommon, direct public criticism between a U.S. president and a pope remains rare.
In Italy, political leaders expressed support for Leo’s peace advocacy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sent a message backing his mission, while opposition leader Elly Schlein described Trump’s comments as “extremely serious.”
The dispute unfolded as diplomatic efforts continued. The United States and Iran recently held face-to-face talks in Pakistan under a fragile ceasefire, with Vice President JD Vance leading the American delegation.
Leo has consistently condemned war, previously stating that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” He has also warned against rhetoric that glorifies military power, calling such attitudes “truly unacceptable.”
Despite the criticism, the pope maintained his stance, underscoring the human cost of conflict. “Too many people are suffering today, too many innocent people have been killed,” he said. “I believe someone must stand up and say that there is a better way.”
In a related development, Donald Trump said he will not apologize to the pope and defended a controversial social media post that drew widespread criticism. Trump argued that he was merely responding to the pontiff’s remarks and dismissed backlash over an AI-generated meme portraying him in a symbolic, religious-style image, saying critics had misinterpreted its intent.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
