Pope Leo has said he is unafraid of criticism from the Donald Trump and will continue speaking out against war, following an unusually direct public attack from the former US leader over the Iran conflict.
Trump, writing on Truth Social, accused the pontiff of being “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy” and later told reporters he was “not a big fan” of the Pope. He also suggested the Pope had been chosen because he is American and claimed his election would benefit US leadership.
Responding while travelling to Algeria on an 11-day trip to Africa, the Pope said he did not wish to enter into a political dispute but would continue advocating for peace.
“I have no fear of the Trump administration, or speaking out loudly of the message of the gospel,” he told reporters aboard his flight. “I don’t want to get into a debate with him.”
He added that the role of the Church was not political but moral, stressing that global suffering required leaders to seek de-escalation. “Too many innocent people are being killed,” he said, calling for an “off-ramp” to the Iran conflict.
The Pope has been a vocal critic of military escalation in the Middle East, previously describing threats against Iran as “unacceptable” and warning against rhetoric that could lead to civilian devastation.
Trump’s remarks focused heavily on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, arguing that strong action was needed to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. He also criticised the Pope’s broader positions on crime, immigration, and foreign policy.
The exchange has sparked wider reaction among Catholic commentators, with some noting the rarity of a US political leader directly attacking a sitting pontiff in such personal terms.
The Pope has also previously criticised hard-line immigration policies and framed his broader message around peace, human dignity, and international law positions widely seen as consistent with the humanitarian approach of his predecessor.
