Pope Leo XIV States No Intent to Debate Trump on Iran Remarks

Remarks on Tyrants and War

On Thursday, during a prayer meeting in Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV said the world was being ravaged by a handful of tyrants and blasted leaders who spend billions on wars.

He stated, woe to those who manipulate religion and the name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging the sacred into darkness and filth. - and Israeli-launched conflict with Iran, gave a speech in Cameroon decrying tyrants and those who manipulate religion for military, economic, and political gain.

Pope Leo XIV stated that anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.

The pontiff rejected the U.S.- and Israeli-launched conflict with Iran. The pontiff, originally from Chicago, vowed to keep up his appeals for peace rooted in the Gospel.

President's Criticisms

President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized Pope Leo XIV in the past week over his advocacy for peace with Iran.

On Sunday, April 12, 2026, President Trump called Pope Leo XIV weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy in messages posted on Truth Social. That same day, President Trump told NBC News at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland that he does not think Pope Leo XIV is doing a very good job and that he likes crime.

President Trump posted AI-generated religious imagery, including of himself in a Jesus-like role, which was removed on Monday morning, April 13, 2026.

Responses and Tour Details

On Monday, April 13, 2026, Pope Leo XIV told NBC News aboard the papal plane that he has no fear of the Trump administration and vowed to keep up his appeals for peace rooted in the Gospel.

He stated that he is not a politician and does not deal with foreign policy from the same perspective as the president, but believes in the message of the Gospel as a peacemaker. On April 12, 2026, the pope stated that he has no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly on the message of the Gospel, which is what he believes he is here to do.

On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, said at a Turning Point USA event in Georgia that Pope Leo XIV should be careful with his remarks and raised the just war theory.

Vance stated that it is important for the vice president to be careful when talking about public policy and for the pope to be careful when talking about theology. He added that when opining on theology, one must be careful and ensure it is anchored in the truth, referencing a more than thousand-year tradition of just war theory in response to Pope Leo XIV's declaration about war.

Pope Leo XIV is on a tour of Africa, with stops in four countries, 11 cities and towns, traversing nearly 18,000 km over 18 flights.

He stated that his trip is primarily to be with, celebrate with, encourage, and accompany Catholics throughout Africa. Before leaving Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV celebrated a farewell Mass in Yaounde.

“It looked like I was trying to debate the president, which is not my interest at all." — Pope Leo XIV > "I do not think Pope Leo XIV is doing a very good job and ... he likes crime." — President Donald Trump > "Pope Leo XIV should be careful with his remarks.”