LUANDA, Angola: Pope Leo XIV sought to play down a war of words with US President Donald Trump on Saturday, saying he had no interest in engaging in a public debate and that his recent remarks had been misinterpreted.
Speaking to reporters aboard his flight to Angola, the US-born pontiff said media coverage of his comments during his Africa tour “has not been accurate in all its aspects”.
“As it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate the president, which is not in my interest at all,” he said.
Pope says remarks misinterpreted
Pope Leo said a speech delivered earlier in Cameroon, in which he warned that the world was being “ravaged by a handful of tyrants”, had been prepared two weeks in advance and was not directed at Trump.
“That speech was prepared well before the president ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting,” he said.
The remarks, delivered during a visit to the city of Bamenda, were widely interpreted by US media as criticism of Trump, particularly amid the pontiff’s recent comments on the US–Israeli war against Iran.
The pope said much of the reaction had become “commentary on commentary”, adding that a “certain narrative” had emerged that did not accurately reflect his intentions.
Trump criticism escalates
Trump had earlier criticised the pope in a series of remarks and social media posts.
On April 12, he said he was “not a big fan of Pope Leo” and accused him of “toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon”.
He later posted on Truth Social that the pope was “weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy”.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 13, 2026
Trump also shared an AI-generated image depicting himself in a Jesus-like form, drawing criticism, including from some religious conservatives.
The exchanges followed Pope Leo’s increasing willingness to speak out against global conflicts, including the war involving Iran, and his criticism of leaders spending heavily on warfare.
Pope Leo’s Africa tour
The pontiff arrived in Luanda on Saturday for the third leg of his extensive Africa tour, travelling from Cameroon after concluding a three-day visit marked by a large public mass attended by around 200,000 people in Yaoundé.
Upon arrival, he travelled through the capital in a popemobile, greeted by crowds, before meeting Angolan President Joao Lourenco.
The 11-day tour, which began in Algeria, spans four countries, 11 cities and nearly 18,000 kilometres.
Throughout the tour, Pope Leo has issued strong warnings against corruption, inequality, the exploitation of Africa’s natural resources and the risks posed by artificial intelligence.
