Pope Leo XIV responds that he is not afraid of Trump

‘I think the president is not understanding what the message of the gospel is’, the pontiff stated.

Pope Leo XIV responded on Monday to the criticism of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, reminding him that ‘the gospel is clear’ and that ‘the Church has the moral obligation to oppose war’, as he said during the flight to Algeria for his third international trip.

‘The things I say do not have to be understood as an attack on anyone. The message of the gospel is very clear: Blessed are those who build peace’, said the American pontiff in statements to journalists traveling with him on the plane.

Leo XIV also assured that he is not ‘afraid’ of the Trump administration or of ‘strongly declaring the message of the Gospel’.

‘This is what I think I have to do, what the Church has to do. We are not politicians, we do not deal with international politics with the same perspective that he (Trump) may have. I believe in the message of the gospel which is to build peace’, he added.

He also stated that he is only inviting ‘everyone to seek a way to build bridges of peace and reconciliation, to seek ways to avoid war whenever possible’.

‘I think the president is not understanding what the message of the gospel is’, the pontiff stated, who feels ‘a lot’ the words that Trump directed at him, but he, according to his statement, will continue with his mission.

‘I think it’s very important to return to that path, either through the United Nations or other ways, and work for peace’, added Leo XIV.

The US President, Donald Trump, lashed out on Sunday against Pope Leo XIV and said he is ‘terrible in foreign policy’ alluding to his criticisms of Iran and Venezuela, and urged him to ‘stop pleasing the radical left’.

‘Pope Leo is WEAK on crime and terrible in foreign policy’, the president wrote on his Truth Social network, in a long message in which he urges him to ‘focus on being a great pope, not a politician’, because ‘he is harming the Catholic Church’.

The US President’s statements came after Pope Leo XIV’s recent criticisms of the Trump administration’s policies.

Regarding the question of Aristegui en Vivo: Trump arremete contra el papa León XIV, amenaza a China y anuncia bloqueo a Ormuz (13/04/2026), Pope Leo XIV’s response to Trump’s criticism is a clear example of the Church’s stance on international politics.