Pope Leo XIV clarified on Saturday that his recent comments about the “world being ravaged by a handful of tyrants” were not intended as a critique of President Donald Trump, according to a report.
During a flight to Angola as part of his 10-day tour of Africa, the pope addressed the media, explaining that the coverage of his statements “has not been entirely accurate.” He emphasized that his remarks were “prepared two weeks ago, long before the president made any comments about me or the peace message I am advocating,” as reported by Reuters.
Reuters noted that the pope explicitly stated his comments were not directed at Trump.
“It seems as though people perceived it as an attempt to engage in a debate with the president, which is not my intention at all,” the pope reportedly remarked.
Pope Leo XIV was responding to questions from journalists during his flight from Yaounde, Cameroon, to Luanda, Angola, on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Luca Zennaro/Pool Photo via AP)
Fox News Digital has contacted the White House for their response.
Trump last Sunday accused Pope Leo XIV of being “terrible” on foreign policy as the pontiff has criticized the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
“He talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” he continued.
A split image shows Pope Leo XIV, left, and President Donald Trump, right, amid a public dispute over immigration policy and the conflict involving Iran. (Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images; Salwan Georges/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
During a speech in Cameroon on Thursday, the pope said, “We must make a decisive change of course — a true conversion — that will lead us in the opposite direction, onto a sustainable path rich in human fraternity.”
“The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters!” he added.
Pope Leo XIV speaks as he meets with the community of Bamenda at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral in Bamenda, on the fourth day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa, on April 16, 2026. (Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images)
“Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth,” the pope also said.
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