Pope Leo pushed back on suggestions he was trying to spar with President Trump, saying his trip to Africa is fundamentally pastoral: to preach peace and care for Catholics facing hunger, political violence and deep inequality. Speaking on the papal plane en route to Angola, he said reports portraying a feud with the U.S. president were exaggerated and that he never intended to engage in a political debate.
The pope explained that remarks he delivered in Cameroon — where he warned that a small number of tyrants are ravaging the world — had been written two weeks before President Trump posted criticisms on Truth Social. He stressed that his chief aim on the visit is to bring the gospel of peace to African communities and to minister to Catholics coping with displacement, conflict and other hardships.
Chris Livesay, traveling with the pontiff, said this was the second time Pope Leo addressed the controversy aboard the plane; the pope had earlier declared he did not fear the Trump administration. Reporter Jericka Duncan observed that the exchanges represent an unprecedented moment in relations between the U.S. and the papacy.