Pope Leo: ‘Not in My Interest At All’ to Debate Trump, Will Keep Preaching Peace/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Pope Leo XIV said it was “not in my interest at all” to debate President Donald Trump over the Iran war, stressing that his message is rooted in the Gospel, not politics. Speaking aboard the papal plane during his Africa tour, the pope said his calls for peace apply to all global conflicts, not just Iran. Leo said he will continue preaching peace, justice, fraternity, and Christian values despite political criticism.
Pope Leo XIV Trump Peace Message Quick Looks
- Pope Leo XIV said debating Trump is “not in my interest at all”
- He said his peace message reflects the Gospel, not politics
- Trump had criticized Leo over comments on the Iran war
- Leo condemned threats to annihilate Iranian civilization
- The pope said media coverage created an inaccurate narrative
- His comments came during an 11-day pastoral tour of Africa
- Leo visited Cameroon before arriving in Angola
- He plans to continue preaching peace, justice, and fraternity
Deep Look
Pope Leo XIV Rejects Political Debate With Trump
Pope Leo XIV said Saturday that he has no interest in engaging in a political debate with President Donald Trump over the Iran war, insisting instead that his role is to preach the Gospel message of peace.
Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane while flying from Cameroon to Angola, the pope addressed days of intense media attention surrounding Trump’s criticism of his remarks about war and peace.
Leo made clear that his message is not directed at Trump personally, but reflects the Catholic Church’s broader mission to promote peace and human dignity.
“And yet as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest at all,” he said.
The pope stressed that much of the controversy came from political interpretation rather than the actual substance of his message.
Pope Says Media Narrative Was Inaccurate
Leo said much of the reporting surrounding the dispute had created a misleading impression about his intentions.
“There’s been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects, but because of the political situation created when, on the first day of the trip, the president of the United States made some comments about myself,” he said.
“Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary, trying to interpret what has been said.”
The pope suggested that public discussion had become more focused on political reactions than on the original meaning of his message about peace.
He said his goal was never to challenge Trump directly, but to continue speaking from a spiritual and pastoral perspective.
Trump Criticized Pope’s Peace Remarks
President Donald Trump launched criticism of the pope on April 12 through his social media platform Truth Social, accusing Leo of being too soft in his response to the Iran war.
Trump criticized Leo’s preaching about peace while the conflict, which began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28 followed by Iranian retaliation, continued to escalate.
Trump accused the pope of being soft on crime, too close to left-wing politics, and even suggested that the first American pope owed his election to Trump.
Leo, however, has consistently called for peace, dialogue, and diplomacy while rejecting the use of religion to justify war.
He specifically condemned Trump’s threat to annihilate Iranian civilization, calling such language “truly unacceptable.”
The Vatican has repeatedly clarified that Leo’s peace message applies to all global conflicts, not just tensions involving Iran.
Church officials have pointed to conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, where the Russian Orthodox Church has justified Moscow’s invasion as a “holy war,” as part of the broader concern Leo is addressing.
Cameroon Speech Sparked Further Attention
Leo referred specifically to remarks he made earlier this week during a peace meeting in Bamenda, Cameroon, where he strongly criticized global violence and exploitation.
Bamenda is considered the center of a long-running separatist conflict in Cameroon’s western English-speaking region, where violence has continued for nearly a decade.
In that speech, Leo condemned what he described as a “handful of tyrants” who were damaging the world through war and exploitation.
He explained on Saturday that those remarks had actually been prepared two weeks earlier, before Trump’s criticism began, meaning they were not written as a response to the U.S. president.
Still, the timing led many observers to interpret them as a direct rebuttal to Trump.
Leo said that interpretation was incorrect.
Pope Says His Mission Is Pastoral
Looking ahead, Leo said he would continue focusing on his religious responsibilities rather than political disputes.
“I primarily come to Africa as a pastor, as the head of the Catholic Church to be with, to celebrate with, to encourage and accompany all the Catholics throughout Africa,” he said.
He emphasized that his mission is centered on faith, unity, and service to people facing hardship.
Leo said upcoming liturgical readings would focus on what it means to follow Christ and live as Christians.
That includes promoting fraternity and brotherhood, while also seeking justice and peace in society.
“but also looking for ways to promote justice in our world, promote peace in our world,” he said.
His comments reflected a broader effort to separate spiritual leadership from political conflict, even as world leaders respond to his public statements.
Angola Visit Highlights Peace Message
Later Saturday, Pope Leo XIV arrived in Angola, the third stop on his four-nation African tour.
His message of peace carries special meaning in Angola, a country still shaped by the scars of a devastating 27-year civil war that ended in 2002.
The pope is expected to meet with Angolan President João Lourenço and deliver his first speech to government authorities.
He said he hopes to bring joy, encouragement, and spiritual support to Angola’s people, many of whom continue to live with the long-term effects of conflict and hardship.
As the first American pope, Leo’s words continue to carry both spiritual and political weight globally.
But he made clear that his focus remains unchanged: peace, justice, and the Gospel.
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