(LifeSiteNews) — Pope Leo XIV said that he is not afraid of U.S. President Donald Trump and will not enter into a debate with him as he continues to speak about the Gospel and against war.
On April 13, during a flight from Rome to Algiers, Pope Leo responded to public criticism from Donald Trump by stating that he does not fear the Trump administration and does not intend to engage in a debate. He explained that his role is to proclaim the Gospel and to speak clearly against war. His remarks were delivered to a journalist following a critical statement issued by Trump on Truth Social.
Pope Leo XIV:
I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the Church is here to do.
We are not politicians. We don’t deal with foreign policy with the same perspective he might… pic.twitter.com/yEHAAsg7GS
— Clash Report (@clashreport) April 13, 2026
“I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am called to do, what the Church is called to do,” the Pope said. “We are not politicians. We are not dealing with foreign policy with the same perspective he might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel: ‘blessed are the peacemakers,’ is a message the world needs to hear.”
According to Vatican News, the Pope emphasized: “I do not see my role as that of a politician; I am not a politician, and I do not want to enter into a debate with him,” referring to Trump.
“I do not believe the message of the Gospel should be misused, as some are doing. I continue to speak out strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, fostering dialogue and multilateral cooperation among States in order to find solutions to problems. Too many people are suffering today, too many innocent lives have been lost, and I believe someone must stand up and say that there is a better way.”
The message Pope Leo intends to bring – especially during this apostolic journey to Algeria, “which was meant to be the first trip of the pontificate,” he specified – is “always the same: peace. I say this to all world leaders, not only (to Trump): let us strive to put an end to wars and promote peace and reconciliation.”
The remarks followed a strongly worded message published earlier by Trump on Truth Social. In that post, the U.S. president criticized what he described as the Pope’s position on crime, foreign policy, and American leadership. He also referred explicitly to a recent Vatican meeting between the Pontiff and David Axelrod, presenting the encounter as evidence of alignment with political figures opposed to his administration.
Trump wrote that he did not want “a Pope who thinks it’s ok for Iran to have a nuclear weapon” and accused the Pontiff of engaging with individuals he characterized as hostile to religious freedom during the COVID period. He further stated that Pope Leo should “focus on being a great Pope, not a politician,” asserting that such conduct was harmful both to the Pope personally and to the Catholic Church.
In the same statement, Trump argued that the Pope was “weak on crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy” and suggested that his election in May 2025 had been politically motivated. He claimed that the choice of an American pope was intended to counter his presidency, asserting that without his own election, Leo XIV would not have been chosen.