Pope Leo pushed back against suggestions he was trying to debate President Trump and said his focus on a trip to Africa is pastoral: preaching peace and tending to Catholics facing hunger, political violence and inequality. Speaking aboard the papal plane en route to Angola, the pontiff said a narrative that he was feuding with the U.S. president had been overstated and that he never intended to engage in a political debate.
The pope said remarks he made in Cameroon — where he warned the world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants — were written two weeks before President Trump posted criticisms on Truth Social. He emphasized his primary interest is to preach the gospel of peace in Africa and to be a pastor to the region’s Catholics, many of whom are suffering from displacement and conflict.
Chris Livesay, traveling with the pontiff, reported that this was the second time Pope Leo addressed the row on the papal plane; the pope had earlier said he had no fear of the Trump administration. Jericka Duncan noted the exchanges mark an unprecedented chapter in U.S.–papal relations.