Pope Leo XIV has pushed back against Donald Trump’s attacks, saying he will not be intimidated and will continue speaking out against war and global injustice.
The pope made the remarks while traveling to Africa, responding publicly for the first time after Trump accused him of being “weak” and claimed he owed his position to American politics.
“I am not afraid,” Pope Leo said, adding that his stance comes from faith, not politics.
He also made clear he has no intention of engaging in a political fight, insisting his role is rooted in the Gospel and focused on peace.
“I have no intention to debate,” he said, as tensions between the Vatican and Washington increased.
The exchange follows days of criticism from the pope over the ongoing Iran war. Leo has repeatedly condemned the conflict, calling it “madness” and warning that powerful nations risk repeating patterns of domination.
In one of his strongest lines, the pope said:
“God does not bless any conflict.”
He has also criticized what he described as a “delusion of omnipotence” driving global powers into war, urging leaders to choose dialogue over force.
Trump, posting on Truth Social, responded with a series of attacks, calling the pope “terrible for foreign policy” and “weak on crime,” while also questioning his legitimacy and suggesting he would not be pope without him.
The US president’s comments came after the pope condemned threats against Iran as “truly unacceptable” and urged citizens to pressure leaders to pursue peace.
Despite the escalating rhetoric, Leo has doubled down on his message, saying the Church must speak for those suffering in war and cannot stay silent.
He told reporters that his mission is to promote peace, dialogue and human dignity, even if that brings him into conflict with political leaders.
“I will continue to speak out,” he said.
The clash marks one of the most direct and public confrontations between a US president and a sitting pope in recent history, with divisions centered on war, power and the role of religion in global politics.
Church figures and international observers have rallied behind the pope, emphasizing that his position reflects long-standing Catholic teaching against war and violence, even as political pressure intensifies.
