Pope Leo XIV says no fear of Trump amid criticism

Pope Leo XIV said he has “no fear” of the administration of Donald Trump and will continue to speak out against war, after the U.S. president launched an unusually harsh attack on his stance regarding the conflict with Iran.

Donald Trump accused the Pope of being “weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy” in a post on Truth Social, later telling reporters he was “not a big fan” of him, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

Speaking to journalists en route to Algeria, the Pope said he did not want to enter into a debate with Trump but would continue to promote peace.

He has been a strong critic of the war with Iran, calling Trump’s threat to “destroy Iranian civilization” unacceptable and urging him to find “a way out” of the conflict.

The Pope is currently visiting Algeria as part of an 11-day trip to Africa.

It is generally rare for a Pope to respond directly to statements made by world leaders. In the United States, there are more than 70 million Catholics, about 20% of the population, including Vice President JD Vance.

Trump’s comments came as the Pope began his Africa tour, his second major foreign trip since his election last year.

In his Sunday post, Trump said the Pope “should take action” and described him as “weak on nuclear weapons,” apparently referring to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, cited as one of the reasons behind tensions involving the U.S. and Israel.

He also suggested that the Pope was elected because he was American and could better deal with him, adding: “If I were not in the White House, Leo would not be in the Vatican.”

Asked to clarify his remarks, Trump later said: “I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime, I think.”

He added that the Pope is “very liberal” and does not believe in stopping crime or confronting countries seeking nuclear weapons.

In response, Pope Leo told reporters aboard his plane that his role is not political but to spread a message of peace.

“I am not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out for the Gospel message, which I believe I am here to deliver,” he said.

“I don’t want to enter into a debate with Trump,” he added.

“Many people are suffering today. Many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone must stand up and say: there is a better way.”

The Pope later used a speech to criticize “ongoing violations of international law and neocolonial tendencies,” urging leaders to embrace justice and solidarity.

Trump’s remarks also drew criticism from Catholics worldwide, with expert Massimo Faggioli comparing them to historical tensions between the Vatican and authoritarian leaders.

The Pope has repeatedly used public speeches to denounce global conflicts and call for de-escalation in the Middle East. He also previously criticized Trump’s immigration policies, questioning whether one can be “pro-life” while supporting what he described as inhumane treatment of migrants.

Pope Leo is seen as continuing the humanitarian tradition of his predecessor Pope Francis, who once said Trump was “not Christian” during the 2016 election campaign due to his anti-immigration rhetoric.