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Pope Leo XIV fired back after President Donald Trump attacked him on social media, saying his calls for peace are rooted in the Gospel and should not be treated as a political argument with the White House.
“I have no fear of the Trump administration,” the pope told reporters aboard the papal plane Monday en route to Algeria.
“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 added.
Trump had criticized the pope’s positions on Sunday in a scathing rebuke on Truth Social.
POPE LEO URGES WAR LEADERS TO HALT FIGHTING AFTER DEADLY STRIKE ON SCHOOL SPARKS OUTRAGE
Split of Pope Leo and President Trump. (Getty Images)
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” Trump began in a lengthy post.
“Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church,” he concluded.
The pope responded Monday, despite saying, “I will not enter into debate.”
POPE LEO XIV TO VISIT FASTEST-GROWING CATHOLIC CONTINENT DURING 4-NATION AFRICA TRIP
Pope Leo XIV speaks to the media on the U.S.–Israeli conflict with Iran, as he leaves the papal residence to head back to the Vatican, in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, April 7, 2026. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)
“The things that I say are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone,” he said, speaking in English, adding, “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.”
“Too many people are suffering in the world today,” Leo added. “Too many innocent people are being killed. And I think…
