Pope vows to continue to speak out against war after Trump attack
Pope Leo has emerged as an outspoken critic of the US-Israeli war on Iran in recent weeks.
Black News 
Pope Leo told Reuters on Monday that he plans to continue speaking out against war after United States President Donald Trump’s direct attack on the leader of the 1.4 billion-member Church.
In comments aboard the papal flight to Algiers, where the first US pope is starting a 10-day tour to four African countries, the pontiff also said the Christian message was being “abused”.
“I don’t want to get into a debate with him,” Leo told Reuters as he greeted journalists on the plane.
“I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing.”
“I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems,” he said, speaking in English.
Absurd and inhuman violence is spreading ferociously through the sacred places of the Christian East, profaned by the blasphemy of war and the brutality of business, with no regard for people’s lives, which are considered at most collateral damage of self-interest. But no gain…
— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) April 10, 2026
“Too many people are suffering in the world today,” said Leo. “Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way.”
“The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the Peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political, a politician,” he said.
Leo, originally from Chicago, has emerged as an outspoken critic of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in recent weeks and decried the “madness of war” in a peace appeal on Saturday.
Trump, in an apparent response to the pope’s criticisms of both the conflict and the White House’s hard-line immigration policies, said late on Sunday that Leo was “terrible”.
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
War divides; hope unites. Arrogance tramples upon others; love lifts up. Idolatry blinds us; the living God enlightens. All it takes is a little faith, a mere “crumb” of faith, in order to face this dramatic hour in history together — as humanity and alongside humanity.…
— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) April 11, 2026
